President, PM for establishing rights of workers

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DHAKA, April 30, 2018 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon all to come forward to ensure fair wages and safe and hygienic work environment for workers to establish their rights and dignity.

They came up with the call in separate messages on the eve of May Day and greeted all toiling masses and workers of the world and expressed solidarity with them.

In his message, President Abdul Hamid said working class people and toiling masses are the main driving force behind the development as the country’s potential future lies on their tireless labour.

He said the working class people are playing a very important role to the socioeconomic development of the country and to materialize visions 2021 and 2041.

President Abdul Hamid said the government is working relentlessly for the overall welfare of toiling masses and to enhance their efficiency.

There is no alternative to ensure improved work environment, good relations between labour and owners, rights of workers and their professional safety and healthiness to increase productivity to achieve sustainable development, he observed.

The President said the present worker-friendly government has been playing an effective role to ensure minimum wages for workers and healthy working environment.

He expressed his hope that positive involvement of workers and owners would enhance productivity.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid deep respect to the people who embraced martyrdom to establish fundamental rights of the working people in Chicago in 1886.

She said May Day is a unique and glorious day in the history of establishing rights of working class people.

Sheikh Hasina said the worldwide observance of May Day commemorates the victory of workers associations through a bloodbath struggle in the US city of Chicago on May 1, 1886 to realize rights of workers.

She said the greatest Bangalee of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had struggled throughout his life for realizing rights of the deprived and working class people of the country. With a view to establishing repression-free society, Bangabandhu had formulated Labour Act in 1972, the premier said, adding that the country’s founding father had ensured rights of workers by nationalizing mills and factories to strengthen the country’s economy.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is implementing different programmes to develop the living standard of workers. The government has announced minimum wage for workers of 38 industrial sectors, including garments, and raised minimum wage for garment workers up to Taka 5,300 from Taka 1662, she said.

The Prime Minister said the government has already formulated ‘Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2013’ by making the law time-befitting one.

The government has formulated Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015 for the first time in the country’s history, she added.

The Prime Minister said the country’s bilateral relations and activities with International Labour Organization have been further strengthened because of her government’s sincere efforts.

Sheikh Hasina expressed her hope that the government will be successful in materializing the visions 2021 and 2041 with the united efforts of all.

The President and the Prime Minister wished all the May Day programmes a success.