Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Rubana Huq has assured workers they will not lose their jobs for staying home during the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
The business leader delivered the assurance through an audio message to the media on Saturday, following widespread criticism of apparel workers rushing back to Dhaka to rejoin at work.
“If a worker is absent from work, he or she will not lose their jobs in consideration of the situation. I earnestly request that all owners look at this from the view point of humanity. I believe owners in the sector which contributes a lot to the economy, will not take away jobs because of their absence,” Rubana Huq said.
The BGMEA president also guaranteed that workers will be paid wages for the month of March.
“There is no scope for unwillingness or hesitation in paying apparel workers, wages for the month of March, and we of course will pay it in time,” she added.
People frantically returning to Dhaka on Saturday, April 4, 2020 | Dhaka TribuneA huge number of garment workers have been returning to the capital recently, due to news of garment factories being set to open today.
People were returning on foot or using local transpors, due to the shutdown of inter-district bus and train movement on Friday, police said.
According to workers, garment factories are set to open again from Sunday.
The workers also said they fear losing their jobs if they fail to report to their workstations, so they are returning to Dhaka even as they face the risk of coronavirus infection.
The factories were closed from March 25 until April 4. However, BGMEA sources said about 90 factories are to suspend operations under section 12 of the Bangladesh Labour Act. Workers would still be entitled to their wages, as per section 16(1) of the act.
