Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today expressed his optimism that the owners of garment industries will pay salaries and allowances to the workers before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. “I believe the (factory) owners will again set an instance of compassion like in the past by paying salaries and allowances to their workers before the Eid,” he told an online press briefing on contemporary issues from his official residence in the city. Quader urged the two organizations of garment and knitwear manufacturers – BGMEA and BKMEA – to declare Eid holidays for workers in phases to check the spread of the deadly coronavirus. “I am drawing the attention of BGMEA and BKMEA to fix holidays of Eid-ul-Azha for workers of readymade garments and other labor-based industries in phases to avert the spread of coronavirus,” he said. The road transport minister urged all concerned to keep stopped the movement of goods-laden heavy vehicles like trucks and covered-vans on roads and highways from three days before Eid-ul-Azha. But the emergency services, including transportation of agricultural and export-oriented and industrial goods, medical equipment, relief goods, energy, fuel, medicine, food items and perishable goods, will remain out the purview of this, he added. He also called upon all concerned to keep open for 24 hours the compressed natural gas (CNG) stations on roads and highways before and after 8 days of the forthcoming Eid. Quader said vehicles without fitness certificates will not be allowed to transport cattle (sacrificial animals) to markets ahead of Eid as directives have already been given to take actions against plying of such vehicles. “Generally, vehicles carrying sacrificial animals run in slower speed and if vehicles without fitness carry cattle, it could face troubles and sometimes get stuck on roads causing traffic gridlock. So, we should refrain from caring animals on such vehicles,” he said. The minister said cattle markets will not be allowed on roads and highways or adjoining areas, and if required, a lesser number of cattle markets will be permitted this year along with encouraging the online cattle purchasing and selling. He said lives and livings of many people are interwoven with economic activities like animal farming and cattle hide exports centering the Eid-ul-Azha, the religious festival of Muslims to sacrifice animals, apart from religious sentiment and it has a significant role to the national economy too. The minister underscored the need for abiding by the health guidelines strictly to extend cooperation with the government’s move in safeguarding the people’s lives alongside keeping the wheels of economy vibrant. About inhumane activities of house owners with tenants and students who reside in private hostels or messes, Quader said the coronavirus crisis has been pushing life of many people into trouble, many are losing jobs, getting lower incomes, so everyone should behave sympathetically and compassionately with all. Source: BSS AH

Urging all to come forward to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said the government has declared a “war” against the pandemic. “The government has declared war to prevent the spread of coronavirus. I call upon the whole nation to join the fight with the government. However, no situation has been created for being panicked,” he told journalists while replying to a question. Quader, also the ruling Awami League general secretary, was addressing a press briefing on current affairs at his office at the Secretariat in the capital. Asking all to refrain from spreading rumors through the social media over the outbreak of COVID-19, he said, “The government is sincere enough to control the spread of the deadly disease. Otherwise, it would not have postponed the programs of the much awaited Mujib Year,” Quader added. In reply to a question, the minister said, “We are taking initiative to procure adequate number of kits to examine positive cases of coronavirus.” He urged the opposition party not to do politics over the outbreak of COVID-19 during the global wartime situation rather to come forward to fight against the pandemic. Quader said AL and its associate bodies, from central to grassroots levels, have cancelled all activities marking the country’s Independence Day due to the outbreak of the coronavirus across the globe. Mentioning that there is no food crisis in the country, he said stern actions will be taken against those who will stockpile food unnecessarily. To minimize the spread of coronavirus, vehicular movement will be suspended if needed, the minister said, adding Sheikh Hasina’s government is ready to take any steps if necessary. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed to increase the wages for garment workers with a logical rate. According to the earlier declared wage structure there was no desired salary increasing in some grades and for that reason on pretext of the ongoing unrest in the garment sector, the government has decided to revise the disparity in the existing grades. State Minister for Labor and Employment Begum Munnujan Sufian announced about the integrated wage structure according to the direction of the Prime Minister at the conference room of the ministry on Sunday. According to the source, Prime Minister of the workers friendly government Sheikh Hasina has directed to adjust the wages of 3,4,5 grades with the grades 1 and 2. After the adjustment the wages will increase in a logical rate in every grade. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) clearly said that if the workers do not join their workplaces by Monday (14 January) then salaries will not be paid. BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman said this on Sunday at a press briefing arranged over the ongoing situation of the garments industry. The garment workers are demonstrating through abstaining from their work in different parts of the country including the capital for the last several days to press home their demands of changing the wage structure and for paying promised wages according to the new wage structure. AH         

Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Siddiqur Rahman said, the new wage framework will be implemented from December according to the previous rules. It is confirmed. He said this after holding fourth meeting of the minimum wage board at Topkhana road in the capital on Monday. The BGMEA president said, policy level discussion was held in the fourth meeting to fix minimum wage. Another meeting was called as we could not reach to a decision. The matter of wage fixing can be finalized in the next meeting. We all are trying to maintain the capability of the industry and necessity of the workers. He said, we have time till October 17 and the wage board fixed salaries will be active from December of the current year. At that time minimum wage board Chairman senior judge Syed Aminul Islam said, to fix the wages final proposal will be sent to the government from the board on October 17. Then it will go for labor ministry vetting. The fifth meeting will be held on 12th September. Decision will be taken on minimum wage there. Later it will be sent to labor ministry on October 17. After scrutinize the ministry will sent it to the concerned authority. Then the final declaration will be given on increased salaries. He also said, we will consider the capability of the owners as well as will give importance on workers’ demand. Nothing will be imposed by pressure on anybody to fix the wages. In the third meeting of the wage board on July 16 proposal was given to fix minimum wage 12 thousand 20 taka from the workers and from the owners the proposal was 6 thousand 3 hundred taka. At that time the workers rejected the increased wages. AH