Dhaka: Findings of a research has recommended for reducing the minimum premium on “Surokkha Scheme” and thus ensuring mandatory participation of the organisations and owners in the scheme to have better outcomes. The research findings were unveiled at a meeting at Shrama Bhaban in the capital today organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) in support with Netherland-based Mondial FNB to make recommendations before the Labour Reform Commission on the role of the Universal Pension Scheme for ensuring social safety of the RMG workers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh Labour Reform Commission Head Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed spoke at the meeting as the chief guest with BILS vice-chairman Anwar Hossain in the chair, said a press release. Senior officials from various government departments, trade union leaders, representatives from owners, civil society representatives, researchers, representatives from national and international organisations also attended the meeting.
The research recommendations also include ensuring subsidies for increasing participation in the government schemes, enhancing the wages of the workers and thus increasing their interest for participating in the scheme, organising more awareness programme and training for the workers on the Universal Pension Scheme and its management, devising a communication strategy design and thus implement it for gaining trust of the workers and ensuring equal decent pension for all the private sector workers.
Deputy Director of the research wing of BILS Monirul Islam highlighted the research findings. Among the major challenges in the way of the universal pension scheme, the research findings showed that the low level of education of the workers is a major barrier against the fully automated and digitalized pension scheme.
Former Labour Secretary Dr Mahfuzul Haque, National Pension Authority Executive Chairman Md Mohiuddin Khan, Labour and Employment Ministry Additional Secretary Sakiun Nahar, Solidarity Center, Bangladesh Country Programme Director AKM Nasim, BILS Executive Council Editor Shakil Akhter Chowdhury, its Director Nazma Yasmin, Bangladesh Labour Federation Executive Director AKM Ashraf Uddin, Department of Labour Director Shamima Sultana Bari spoke, among others, at the meeting.
National Pension Authority Executive Chairman M Mohiuddin Khan said such research findings would help to ensure effective implementation of the pension scheme. Labour Reform Commission Chairman Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed said banks could be involved in the pension scheme while ensuring social security is the first priority of this reform commission. After the meeting, the research report was handed over to the Labour Reform Commission Chairman.