Cabinet approves draft law for EPZ workers

cabinetCabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the draft of EPZ Labour Act. Photo: Focus Bangla
Cabinet on Monday approved the draft of a labour law intended for Export Processing Zones (EPZ). The act amends the ‘Export Processing Zones (EPZ) Workers Welfare Association and Industrial Relations Act of 2010’ with respect to amending the name of ‘workers’ welfare society’ to ‘workers welfare association.’

The weekly cabinet meeting was headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the secretariat on Monday.

Cabinet secretary Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan in a press conference after the meeting said that according to the draft of the act the EPZ workers are getting the opportunity to form their association to bargain for their rights.

For forming associations 30% of the workers have to submit applications to the EPZ authorities. If 50% of the workers vote for the associations then they will get approval to form an association.

Recruitment of the labourers, conditions of the job, maternity facilities, work environment, working hours, wages, forming EPZ labour court and other issues are enlisted in 20 sections of 16 chapters of the draft of EPZ Labour Act.

The cabinet meeting also approved drafts of Export Development Bureau Act and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Control Act (amendment ).

Source: Prothom Alo