The government has initiated a move to enforce working hours, overtime allowance and holiday-related provisions of the labour law in all the business establishments across the country, officials said.
The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) has already issued a notice to hundreds of shops and showrooms, asking them to comply with the law related to weekly and annual holidays, daily working hours, overtime allowance and the closure of the shops.
The move came as its regular inspection found violations of the law in most establishments, especially shops and showrooms.
On March 6, DIFE instructed all its district and upazila level inspectors to send their inspection reports, especially mentioning the implementation status of weekly holidays in shops, business and industrial units, within this month, according to a circular of the department.
It has been found that majority of the shops/business/industrial units keep their businesses open in violation of the law related to one and half-day weekly holiday, thus depriving the workers of their lawful rights, it said.
Legal actions have to be taken against the errant establishments not complying with the related laws, it warned.
DIFE has been conducting regular inspections in the formal sectors, including garments, but with its limited workforce, it is not possible to inspect all the 8.3 million economic establishments in a short time, said its deputy inspector general for Dhaka district Zakir Hossain.
"Since 2014, we have focused on several dozens of sectors, including the garment sector," he said.
As part of the move, another official said, the DIFE has issued warning notices to hundreds of shops and showrooms, including Bata outlets in different areas, in the last few months.
"Your shop/establishment has been found not to be properly complying with the law relating to weekly and annual holidays, working hours and overtime allowance," according to a warning notice served on some showrooms of Bata.
In the notice, the DIFE also warned them of legal action if they do not follow the provisions of the labour law.
The Bata official concerned could not be available for comments.
