The government is considering formation of a sectoral confederation to immediately solve the problems of the ready-made garment (RMG) workers for betterment of the sector.
The move came following a proposal of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), placed to the government in this regard.
A number of issues related with the RMG workers' welfare and benefits, including the confederation, were discussed elaborately at a meeting of Tripartite Consultation Council (TCC) at the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) at Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday.
MoLE State Minister Begum Monnujan Sufian said the government has formed 29 committees in the labour-intensive areas to look into the complaints lodged by workers.
Trade unions, however, claimed that more than 11,000 workers of 99 units were terminated from their jobs soon after the recent unrest in the RMG sector on the issue of salary discrimination in the new wage structure.
The state minister said the government will gradually solve the RMG sector workers' problems after discussions with the owners.
On the occasion, she handed over insurance claims of over Tk 39.8 million for the family members of 203 deceased garment workers. Each dead worker's family received a cheque of Tk 0.2 million.
BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman received cheques amounting to over Tk 33 million from her on behalf of the family members of 169 deceased garment workers.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) First Vice-President Md Mansoor Ahmed received cheques amounting to over Tk 6.8 million for the family members of 34 dead workers.
MoLE Secretary Afroza Khan presided over the meeting.
She asked the representatives of labour organisations, who attended the meeting, to come up with their specific suggestions on formation of the proposed confederation.
Director General of Directorate of Labour Shiv Nath Roy, President of Jatiya Sramik League Sukkur Mahamud, General Secretary of Bangladesh Labour Federation Delwar Hossain Khan, and labour leaders Sirajul Islam Roni and Nazma Akter were present, among others.
