DHAKA, Jan 12, 2025 (BSS) - The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has recommended introducing a wage guarantee insurance scheme by the government for labour welfare.

“The insurance scheme should be formed with employers’ contributions, which would ensure wage payment for the workers in case of failure to do so,” said CPD Senior Research Associate Tamim Ahmed.

He came up the recommendation during a discussion titled "Reform in workers' livelihood, workplace safety and rights-related issues: An agenda for the interim government," held at the CPD office in collaboration with Christian Aid.

Tamim presented the keynote paper at the event, where he recommended introducing a national minimum wage for all. 

There cannot be separate labour laws inside and outside the export processing zones [EPZ]. This is discrimination, he added.

He also proposed creating a sector-wise guideline on how a worker will be promoted against a certain grade.

Among the recommendations presented at the event, some were long-term, and some were short-term.

In the short term, CPD recommended incorporating provisions for children's education into the minimum wage structure.

On a national level, the CPD recommended gradually moving towards announcing a national minimum wage that will be temporarily applicable to all industries, including those of the informal sector and are still to be covered under minimum wage board (MWB) regulations.

CPD recommended making a major revision to all the sectoral minimum wages set more than 5 years ago within the next one year, prioritising the oldest one first.
 
Minimum wages should be guaranteed for all types of contract-based workers, including those temporarily hired through third parties with legal provisions, said the think-tank.

They also recommended setting all minimum wage structure allowances — such as the housing allowance — as a percentage of the basic salary rather than a fixed amount.
 
In the long term, all industries should be under the MWB coverage, prioritising sectors with a lower presence of trade unions, recommended CPD.

Some of the other recommendations include introducing a new legal provision requiring an additional amount to pay for each day's delay in wage payment, substantially raising the penalty for not paying the minimum wage, especially deliberately, repeatedly.

 Also, they suggested making not paying overtime a punishable offence by law and making brands/buyers accountable in complying with national rules and regulations including those related to minimum wage and wage related payments and making it mandatory for DIFE to publish a wage implementation assessment report within four months of setting a new minimum wage, publicly disclosing non-compliant establishments' names.

 Announce a national minimum wage day officially and celebrate every year intending to increase awareness, the think-tank also said.

 Regarding the payment method of salaries CPD suggested making it mandatory to wage and other financial benefits payment through formal and banking channel and/or MFS or DFS and enabling night banking services for workers near industrial zones.

 Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, CPD Research Director, said, "We are not saying these recommendations must be actualised within a year. This is a short-term, medium-term and long-term process.

 “But we want this year to be declared labour reform year so that these reforms are expedited. The ministries and organisations which deal with labour must work in a coordinated manner,” he added.

 Among others, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, head of the Labour Reform Commission, spoke on the occasion.