EU, Germany transfer €80m to support unemployed Bangladeshi workers
In the first phase, 1,794 workers on Tuesday got Tk3,000 each for the month of September
The European Union (EU) and Germany transferred €80 million to Bangladesh for Thursday for supporting the unemployed and distressed workers in readymade garment, leather goods and footwear industries.
This is the first joint disbursement from the €113 million grant made available by the EU and Germany as part of Team Europe's response to fight Covid-19 and its consequences in Bangladesh, said an EU press release.
The funds will be channeled through the budget support programme on the National Social Security Strategy reforms in Bangladesh.
On 22 December, eligible workers under the social protection programme for unemployed and distressed workers in the apparel, leather goods and footwear industries received the first monthly cash aid of Tk3,000 each.
The aid will continue for three months. About 10,000 will get this financial benefit from the European Union (EU) and Germany's fund, although factory owners have submitted 16,600 workers' names.
Sources said the remaining 6,600 have been left out as their employers have not given proper information about them.
EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink said the inclusion of affected workers in several sectors is an encouraging step to ensure adequate coverage across life cycle. The EU and its member states are committed to support efforts to establish adequate and sustainable social security for workers, with the shared objectives to protect lives and livelihoods.
German Ambassador Peter Fahrenholtz said, "We hope the support will reach as many eligible workers as possible and we count on the joint efforts of the government, the associations and the factories to achieve this."