Different companies are still reluctant to contribute to the government-run Bangladesh Workers' Welfare Foundation (BWWF) despite repeated efforts to comply with the lawful requirement, officials said.
So far, some 38 companies have made their contribution to the fund since 2006 till now.
The amount of the fund reached Tk 695.32 million with the latest contribution by Holcim Cement Bangladesh Ltd and Asian Consumer Care (Pvt) Ltd (Dabur).
Representatives of the two companies on Wednesday separately handed over cheque worth Tk 63, 96,072 and TK 17, 00,032 respectively to State Minister for Labour Mujibul Hoque Chunnu at his Secretariat office in the city.
According to the amended labour law, profit- making companies have to share five per cent of their net profits to the participatory and welfare fund of the company and the government-formed foundation. The ratio of the contribution is 80:10:10 respectively.
Most of the 38 companies that contributed to the fund are multinational ones, labour ministry officials said.
The Labour Ministry issued letters to a large number of companies during the last one year asking them to contribute to the BWWF which would be spent for welfare of the workers of different sectors, they added.
But majority of the companies concerned are yet to respond to the government's call in respect of contributing a certain portion of their profits to the fund, they added.
"Companies are gradually responding to our call though it is far below expectation," Faizur Rahman, joint secretary of the Labour Ministry told the FE.
Multinational companies are responding promptly while the response is relatively poor from the local ones, Mr Rahman, also director general of the BWWF executive board, said.
Since 2006, a few companies contributed to the fund while participation has increased after amendment to the law in 2013, he added.
"It is just the beginning and we are initially pursuing the companies instead of taking harsh measures," he said.
Recently, the ministry asked the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) to pursue the issue with the companies at the time of giving registration and its renewal, he explained.
Most of the companies are not well aware of the law while legal obligation has been incorporated through the introduction of penalty in the amended one in 2013, Mr Rahman added.
Sources said the multinational companies have obligation to obey the law of the land where they are doing business due to pressure from their global headquarters.
Local companies are dillydallying in obeying the law due to some loopholes in it, they added.
munni_fe@yahoo.com
Companies coldshoulder workers\\\' welfare fund
Monira Munni | Published: January 22, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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