Take effective steps to ensure workers’ welfare: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday directed the Labour and Employment Ministry to take effective measures for the welfare of the workers by creating a congenial working atmosphere and ensuring appropriate wages for them. It is one of the main responsibilities of the government to ensure minimum wages for the workers, a big strength for the country, she said in her introductory speech at a meeting with the high officials of the Labour and Employment Ministry at the Secretariat. Sheikh Hasina, also in-charge of the Labour and Employment Ministry, directed the officials concerned to complete within the stipulated time the unfinished or under implemented development programs and projects under the Ministry, which were taken during the last tenure of her government. She said that though there is no scope to allow ‘trade union’ in the EPZ areas of the country under the existing law, but steps should be taken to ensured the welfare of the workers. At the same time, she also asked the Labour Ministry to take measures to protect the rights of the ‘housemaids’ (griho karmi), which is most often neglected in the country. In this regard, the Prime Minister advised the Ministry to prepare some rules and regulations to issue license for outsourcing business of housemaids, which, she said, will make it easier for the outsourcing agencies to ensure all rights of the housemaids including their wages and working hours, according to a news agency.