The government has decided to pay the dues of the jute mills workers in order to implement the decision to stop the production activities of all the state-owned jute mills. On an average, each worker will get a minimum of Taka 13 lakh 80 thousand and a maximum of Taka 54 lakh.
This information was given in the press release of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute on Thursday (July 2). Earlier, a meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office on the closure of state-owned jute mills and payment of dues to workers.
The Ministry of Textiles and Jute said in a press release that the state-owned jute mills under the control of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BGMC) have been declared closed from July 1 to resolve the existing situation of state-owned jute mills. The dues of 24886 workers shall be paid under golden handshake program at a time. Under this, the workers will get financial benefits in four sectors. The workers will get 60 days' wages for the notice period as per sub-section 3 of section 26 of the Bangladesh Labor Act-2006. Apart from this, the workers will get the gratuity due as per the employment rules (according to the National Wage Framework-2015), the entire amount deposited in the PF fund and the golden handshake facility at the prescribed rate.
According to preliminary estimates, each worker will get an average of Taka 13 lakh 80 thousand and a maximum of Taka 54 lakh, the statement said. Paying half of the workers' debts in cash and the other half in the form of profit-based savings certificates every three months will give the workers a kind of compulsory saving opportunity, which will give him a significant amount of profit every three months. This will create a financial security for the workers.
According to the press release, if someone owes Taka 14 lakh, he will get Taka 7 lakh in cash and the remaining Taka 7 lakh in savings certificates. In this case, he will get a profit of 19 thousand 320 rupees every three months for savings certificates. If someone owes Taka 24 lakh, he will get Taka 12 lakh in cash and the remaining Taka 12 lakh through savings certificates. In this case, he will get a profit of 33,120 rupees every three months. If someone owes Taka 38 lakh, he will get Taka 19 lakh in cash and the remaining Taka 19 lakh in savings certificates form. In this case, his profit in three months will be 52 thousand 440 rupees. If someone owes Taka 54 lakh, he will get Taka 27 lakh in cash and the remaining Taka 27 lakh will be given as savings certificate. In this case, he will get a profit of 84 thousand 520 rupees every three months.
Earlier, Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi had said at a virtual press conference on June 26 that 24,886 permanent workers of state-owned jute mills were being sent through golden handshake to save them from losses.