Govt committed to fair wages, dignity for workers: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (30 April) said working people are the main driving force behind a nation's development, prosperity and progress, stressing that ensuring their rights and welfare remains a top priority of the government.

Improving their standard of living, ensuring fair rights, creating a safe working environment and establishing social dignity remain key commitments of the current democratic government, said the prime minister in a message marking International Workers' Day (May Day).

Tarique Rahman expressed hope that labour-friendly policies, expanded employment and welfare initiatives would bring positive changes to workers' lives. 

Referring to former president Ziaur Rahman, the prime minister said he believed that the strength of workers drives national prosperity and development.

Former president Ziaur Rahman had taken various groundbreaking steps for workers' welfare, adding, "The policies and reforms he introduced have strengthened the foundation of workers' welfare."

He also said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman created overseas labour markets, especially in the Middle East, and that expatriate workers are now a key pillar of Bangladesh's economy.

He added that whenever the BNP government has been in power, it has taken special initiatives for workers' welfare.

These include labour law reforms and modernisation, formation of a wage commission, setting and implementing minimum wages for garment workers, ensuring payment of bonuses, establishing a workers' welfare foundation, and taking special measures for the treatment and education of garment workers' children, he said.

Continuing the legacy of Shaheed president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, he said ensuring workers' rights and their political, economic and social security through a safe working environment remains a priority of the current government.

Bangladesh has ratified 39 conventions and one protocol of the International Labour Organization (ILO)and the government remains committed to maintaining close relations with the ILO and to improving workers' living standards.

"I believe that a prosperous, self-reliant, democratic and humane Bangladesh can be built only by ensuring the safety, dignity and welfare of workers. Through joint efforts and cooperation, we will achieve the Bangladesh we aspire to, InshaAllah," he said.

The prime minister extended his heartfelt greetings to all the people working at home and abroad, who are engaged in work for their livelihood and, above all, for the development of the country.

He also wished overall success for all programmes undertaken on the occasion of May Day.