GP provides Tk30 crore to workers' welfare fund

The country's largest mobile operator Grameenphone has contributed Tk30 crore to the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation Fund for the welfare of workers during Covid-19 pandemic. 

A three-member delegation from Grameenphone led by its Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) Syed Tanvir Husain handed over the funds to the Secretary of the Ministry Ministry of Labour and Employment K M Abdus Salam at the Secretariat.

Grameenphone had been regularly contributing a certain portion of its profits to the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation. As the highest contributor to this fund, Grameenphone has so far deposited Tk151.61 crore.  

"The government created the Labour Welfare Foundation in compliance with the labour law of Bangladesh for the welfare of the hardworking labour community, K M Abdus Salam said during the cheque handover event. 

The fund provides support to the workers in the formal and informal sectors in the treatment of accidental deaths in workplaces, injuries, incurable diseases and also for the higher education of meritorious children of the workers, he added. 

"During this Coronavirus crisis this year, around two thousand workers have been aided with approximately Tk6.25 crore from this fund," he further said. 

K M Abdus Salam also stated that, under the leadership of the Labour and Employment State Minister and Chairman of Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation Begum Munnujan Sufian, the Workers Welfare Foundation shall always work towards the welfare of the workers.

"Our socio-economic situation has undergone major transformations during this ongoing Covid-19 crisis. Organizations of different sectors need to step up to aid the people as a measure to tackle this situation," Grameenphone CHRO Syed Tanvir Husain said. 

Under the Bangladesh Labour Law, domestic and foreign companies contribute one-tenth of 5 percent of their profits to this fund at the end of the year. 

So far, 165 companies, including Grameenphone, have contributed a certain portion of their profits to this fund. These funds are spent on the welfare of the workers engaged in formal and informal sectors.

The fund handover ceremony was attended by President of Bangladesh Sramik League Fazlul Haque Montu, Director General of Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation Mollah Jalal Uddin NDC, Inspector General of DIFE Shib Nath Roy, Additional Secretary of MoLE  Dr Rezaul Haque, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Grameenphone WPPF Yeasir Mahmood Khan and Grameenphone Industrial Relations Head K M Sabbir Ahmed.