Bangladesh’s garment manufacturers convened at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara on Thursday for a day-long orientation workshop on strengthening social protection for readymade garment (RMG) workers, focusing on two government initiatives designed to cushion employees against economic shocks. Read Here
The session centered on the Unemployed Workers Protection Programme (UWPP) and the Labour Information Management System (LIMS), organized jointly by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the European Union-funded TA-SPBS project. Management and HR officials from more than 50 member factories attended sessions on programme implementation, beneficiary eligibility, registration, and digital labour data systems.
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The UWPP, an updated version of a pandemic-era scheme launched in 2020, is administered under the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s Central Fund. It delivers monthly cash transfers of Tk 5,000 for up to three months to workers temporarily unemployed due to factory closures, workplace accidents, or maternity leave, paid through a government-to-person digital channel.
BGMEA Director Nafis-Ud-Daula said protecting worker welfare is essential to the industry’s sustainable growth and called for continued coordination among government, BGMEA, and development partners. Tahmina Begum of the Ministry of Labour and Employment outlined the programme’s progress, while DIFE’s Al Amin stressed accurate payroll and NID records to prevent eligible workers from being overlooked. EU project manager Valentina reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to long-term social protection for RMG workers.
Organizers said the initiative aims to build a safer, more resilient working environment across Bangladesh’s garment sector, the country’s largest export earner.