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Reform labour laws to protect workers' rights

Speakers tell consultation meeting

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The workers in the country are subjected to oppression and deprived of their rights because of archaic labour laws and influence of businessmen over the administration, said the labour leaders and civil society members at a consultation meeting yesterday.
Demanding reforms in the labour laws, they said that although the workers, particularly in the garment sector, help earn 76 percent of foreign exchange through export, the authorities pay no attention to their basic needs.
Nagorik Uddog, an NGo, and Sammilita Sramik Forum, a federation of the labour organisations, arranged the consultation meeting on 'occupational safety and corporate responsibilities' at the National Press Club.
The speakers blamed the rift between differentlabour organisations for failing to launch a tough movement to protect their rights and called on the trade unions to come under one umbrella in establishing their rights.
Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, country director of the Hunger Project, said the compensation given to the families of the workers killed in the Spectrum Sweater Industries factory collapse is too inadequate. How can the cost ofa worker'slife be onlyTk onelakh? he asked.
Demanding revision of the laws on health and safety of the workers, he suggested that the compensation should be fixed on the basis of the skills, potentials and age of the workers.
The minimum compensation in any accident should also be fixed, he added.
Dr Syed Tarique Uz-Zaman, coordinator of Batu, Saarc Region, called for enactment of laws for all the industries, government and nongovernment organisations so that the employers compulsorily arrange insurance for the workers along with gratuity and provident funds.
The law expert regretted that there is no proper mechanism to monitor the enforcement oflabourlaws.
AFM Imam Uddin, member secretary of People's Health Movement Bangladesh, called on the government to ratify the international conventions on occupational safety and health.
Md Bahrane Sultan, president of Jago Bangladesh Garments Federation, M Zaman, president of Bangladesh Grameen o Nagar Daridra Federation, Zakir Hossain, chief executive director Nagorik Uddog, and Shamsunnahar Mary of Jago Nari Sangsad also spoke.
Bangladesh Trade Union Kendro President Nurul Islam moderated the meeting.