Subsidised rice project for RMG workers suffers a blow
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Sonia A Moni
The rice distribution programme of the apparel makers for their workers is yet to start in full swing as certain formalities are holding back the initiatives, officials said Wednesday.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) started rice distribution at subsidised rate to the garment workers in the capital from August 27.
Officials now say it will take until the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr to properly reach the benefit to the beneficiaries, as it is necessary for factories interested to sell rice to their workers at subsidised rate to furnish certain information to the government.
BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy said under the subsidised rice distribution pilot project 548 garments factories have submitted their applications before the month of Ramadan.
"The pilot project will run during Ramadan. Later, it will be expanded provided the government continues to supply the rice," Murshedy said while talking to the FE.
He said: "We began our project at Shamahar Sweaters Ltd just a day before we received the government papers on August 26."
He said the businessmen would not be able to complete all the formalities required at a short notice for the dealership.
Nahid Hasan, managing director of Shamahar Sweaters Ltd, said they were distributing rice twice a week to the workers.
When asked to comment on the response of the workers, she said, "It is too early to comment as only seven days have gone. We are just monitoring the pilot project and within a few days we will formulate a guideline for our whole project."
The rice distribution programme of the apparel makers for their workers is yet to start in full swing as certain formalities are holding back the initiatives, officials said Wednesday.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) started rice distribution at subsidised rate to the garment workers in the capital from August 27.
Officials now say it will take until the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr to properly reach the benefit to the beneficiaries, as it is necessary for factories interested to sell rice to their workers at subsidised rate to furnish certain information to the government.
BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy said under the subsidised rice distribution pilot project 548 garments factories have submitted their applications before the month of Ramadan.
"The pilot project will run during Ramadan. Later, it will be expanded provided the government continues to supply the rice," Murshedy said while talking to the FE.
He said: "We began our project at Shamahar Sweaters Ltd just a day before we received the government papers on August 26."
He said the businessmen would not be able to complete all the formalities required at a short notice for the dealership.
Nahid Hasan, managing director of Shamahar Sweaters Ltd, said they were distributing rice twice a week to the workers.
When asked to comment on the response of the workers, she said, "It is too early to comment as only seven days have gone. We are just monitoring the pilot project and within a few days we will formulate a guideline for our whole project."