Various labour organizations are strongly protesting against a government move to amend the labor law by ignoring workers' rights and interests. As a result meeting held at the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Thursday regarding the amendment of the labor law ended without any decision.
It is reported that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has recommended not to keep the 'Workers' Profit Participation Fund (WPPF) for the welfare of the workers 100 percent export-oriented and foreign-invested enterprises are obliged to deposit five (5) percent of the company's profits into the fund for the welfare of workers from the labor law and rules along with the draft of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSC).
Several meetings have already been held with all the stakeholders concerned to discuss the issue. And the labor organizations have been objecting and protesting against such activities.
In the atest development, another meeting was held at the Ministry of Labor and Employment on Thursday afternoon in this regard. The meeting was chaired by Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
Officials of various ministries, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and leaders of various labor organizations were present at the meeting.
Labor leaders demanded respect for the country's existing laws to protect the rights and interests of all concerned, including workers. They said that any initiative to amend the labor law in a hurry, avoiding tripartite consultations with the Ministry of Labor, will violate the rights of workers.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Confederation Babul Akhtar, who was present at the meeting on Thursday, said that WPPF is the right of workers. If this benefit (WPPF) is eliminated without following the country's laws, it will be against the interests of workers.
He said, "We strongly opposed and protested against the proposal made by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to eliminate the WPPF benefit in the meeting."
The general secretary of the Bangladesh Trade Union Confederation Babul Aktar said, “We have said in the meeting that all companies in the country have the WPPF under the existing law. But excluding only workers of foreign investment companies from this benefit is against the law and is taking away the rights of workers.”
He said, “We also said in the meeting that no such decision can be taken in a hurry at this time. There are many more issues to discuss and review in this regard. So, when an elected government comes to power in the future, a well-thought-out decision can be taken based on discussions.”
Babul Aktar said that no decision was taken in the meeting on Thursday despite their objections and counter-arguments. However, another meeting has been called on the matter at the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday for further discussions.
Abdul Malek, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, confirmed that the meeting was held in this regard. He said that no significant decision was taken in the meeting.
It is worth noting that in Bangladesh, the Workers' Profit Participation Fund (WPPF) was established by law in 2006. According to this law, 100 percent export-oriented and foreign-invested enterprises are obliged to deposit five (5) percent of the company's profits into the fund for the welfare of workers.
Due to this obligation, domestic and multinational companies deposit a certain amount of their profits into this fund every year. That money is spent on improving the living standards of workers.
Through this fund, the state on the one hand regularly receives a significant amount of revenue. On the other hand, worker welfare, fair distribution of wealth and social stability are ensured.
