Govt moves to form lawyers\\\' panel for protecting RMG workers\\\' rights

Mohammad Ali | Published: April 07, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The government has moved to form a panel of the lawyers for the workers, especially in the readymade garment (RMG) sector, to protect their legal rights, sources said.
Formation of the lawyers' panel for the workers will facilitate, among others, accelerate disposal of the cases filed by them with the concerned labour courts, ensuring quick legal redress in respect of violation of their rights, they said.
"It (formation of the panel) will be a milestone step in providing legal aid services to the workers and disposing of their cases quickly, ensuring their legal rights," Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury, law officer of the Labour Legal Aid Cell (LLAC), told the FE.
The LLAC is the country's first government agency that is dedicated to provide legal aid services to the workers free of cost.Â It was formed after the devastating Rana Plaza collapse last year under the National Legal Aid Services Organisation (NLASO) of the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs ministry.
The Labour Legal Aid Cell recently took the move to form the lawyers' panel under the cell to protect rights of the workers.
The LLAC has already issued a notice last month inviting the qualified lawyers to drop their applications to the cell for their selection in the proposed 10-member lawyers' panel.
Last date of submitting the application was set at April 09, 2014, Moshiur Rahman said adding that five-year practicing experience was sought as requirement from the lawyers.
The LLAC wanted to form such a lawyers' panel that will be very much friendly to the workers, and sincerely dedicate themselves to deal with their cases, helping them get remedy of their rights violation.
Located on the 5th floor of Shrama Bhaban, 4, Rajuk Avenue (Dainik Bangla intersection), Dhaka-1000, the labour legal aid cell started its activities on May 2, 2013.
The free legal aid services that the LLAC provides to the workers include: legal suggestions, sending grievance notices to the owners on behalf of the workers, appointing lawyers to conduct cases if necessary and instant suggestion services over hotline cell phone-number 01761-222224, etc.