Commerce Minister calls industries against workers’ termination

With around 218 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 20 reported deaths, Coronavirus outbreak is now taking its toll on Bangladesh.

To control the pandemic from spreading faster and assume disastrous proportions, the Government has ordered a countrywide shutdown, which has now rolled into the third week.

As a result of this, garment manufacturing industry – considered the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy – has to shut operations thereby rendering thousands of workers to stare at an uncertain future, amidst allegations of scores of workers being laid off.

To ensure that garment workers do not lose their source of livelihood in these trying times, Bangladesh Commerce Minister called upon the factory owners not to terminate any worker even as the factories are compelled to keep shut due to the pandemic.

The Commerce Minister made this appeal to the factory owners in a press communique.

He also requested all concerned to ensure that employees’ salaries for the month of March are disbursed by 16 April.

It may be mentioned here that the Government has recently announced a stimulus package of Taka 50 billion to help all export-oriented industries, including the apparel manufacturing industry, pay the workers’ wages.