‘Ensure maternity welfare at workplaces’

State Minister for Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian has instructed labour inspectors to ensure day care centres and breastfeeding corners at workplaces.

''There is no scope for any negligence in this regard,'' she said at a programme titled "Mothers at Work," jointly organised by Unicef and the ministry on Tuesday, at Dhaka's Cirdap Auditorium.  

The state minister said that as per the country's labour law, factory owners must ensure day care centres and breastfeeding corners at their factories if over 40 female employees work there. 

"Ensuring such facilities is a long-term investment," she said, explaining: "If any skilled employee quits her job due to the lack of such amenities, it will ultimately harm the industry."

 There is no alternative to generating skilled manpower in order to build and economically self-sustaining nation, she added. 

Referring to the contribution of the RMG industry to the Bangladesh's economy, the state minister said the government has set a target of earning $50 billion from RMG exports by 2022. 

Participants at the event also revealed that day care centres and breastfeeding corners have been established in 4,907 factories. The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) has also taken several measures to ensure maternity welfare in workplaces. 

Among others, labour secretary KM Ali Azam, additional secretary Dr Mollah Jalal Uddin, Unicef representative in Bangladesh Tomoo Hozumi, were also present at the event. 

Director General of DIFE Shibnath Roy chaired the programme.