Former shipping minister and transport sector leader Shajahan Khan has suggested a separate labour budget for the country's working-class people in the upcoming national budget.
"The labour budget should not be under a specific ministry," he said at a roundtable discussion held at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Saturday.
Emphasizing the importance of safeguarding both workers and owners to enhance industrial prospects, Shajahan Khan said: "It is crucial to protect both entities for the growth of any industry, not just the garment sector. Garment owners say many industries are closing, but those who do not maintain transparency in their operations and misuse bank loans cause these closures. Seminars and meetings are held to improve workers' skills, but similar initiatives are not taken for owners. Not all owners are the same, so raising awareness among them is necessary. Addressing these issues can prevent future problems."
The former minister said: “The time has come to implement the platform that both owners and workers have been discussing to coordinate workers' activities. The ministries for workers should communicate and coordinate with this platform.”
The roundtable discussion emphasized that the welfare proposals for workers promised by the Awami League government in their election pledges should be implemented in this year's budget. Budget allocations for the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and related ministries should not be reduced.
