With no minimum penalty range set for labour-law violation, the inspectors sometimes fine such a lawbreaker as low as Tk 100 that virtually borders on impunity for more acts of contravention.
Officials say the maximum penalty for labour-law violation is currently Tk 25,000 while there is no minimum penalty range fixed. Thus, the inspectors penalise the lawbreakers at their will.
Labour leaders say there is no sense in penalising a factory owner with a fine of only Tk 100 for violation of a provision of labour law these days-it ultimately encourages further abuse of the law.
They also find Tk 25,000 as the maximum fines also paltry in consideration of the incidence of violations and say such a small amount encourages the mighty factory owners to repeat the offence.
Sources say a recent meeting of the labour inspection and industrial sub-committee discussed the matter and viewed that the minimum penalty should be Tk 25,000 instead of keeping it open to one's will.
While presiding over the meeting, inspector-general of the Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishments Nasir Uddin Ahmed said the provision of lesser penalties would encourage the owners to go on violating the law and discourage labour inspectors from acting properly.
The meeting decided to send a proposal to the ministry of labour and employment to set the minimum penalty at Tk 25,000 in next amendment to the labour law.
However, the meeting did not take into cognisance whether raising the maximum ceiling of penalty is required when the minimum range would be set at Tk 25,000, which is equal to the present rate of maximum penalty.
Contacted Friday, Mr Ahmed told the FE as minimum-penalty range will reach the present maximum, an upward revision of upper limit of penalty will also be needed.
"We will take a decision on upward revision of maximum-penalty range for labour-law violation in the next meeting of the committee," he said.
Eminent labour leader and executive director of Awaj Foundation Nazma Akter told the FE that industrialists are very powerful and pursue the government to lower punishment against labour-law violation.
She mentioned that there was a provision of up to three months' imprisonment for violating labour law which the industrialists could get revoked by pursuing the government.
"You see, the apparel-factory owners are member of core group of the government, including Member of Parliament and minister. What you can expect from the government to protect labourers' interests," says Ms Akter.
She feels that the range of minimum penalty should go up significantly alongside restoration of the provision of imprisonment to keep the violators under pressure.
