CPD proposes provisions to make employers pay extra if employees do not pay on time

The Center for Political Dialogue (CPD) has proposed that the government introduce a new provision requiring employers to compensate workers for delays in salary payments.

“Face a legal obligation that requires additional payments for each day that wages are delayed,” said CPD Senior Research Associate Tamim Ahmed.

He made the proposal during a discussion titled “Workers’ welfare reform, workplace safety and rights-related issues: An agenda for the interim government”, organized at the CPD office today (January 12) in collaboration with Christian Aid.

While presenting the keynote, Tamim also proposed significantly increased penalties for not paying the minimum wage, especially in cases of willful and repeated violations.

Although minimum wages are set in 42 sectors in Bangladesh, they are often not revised periodically. Even in sectors with fixed minimum wages, implementation remains insufficient, he said.

“After the 2018 minimum wage declaration in the garment sector, a study showed that after three years, 40% of workers had still not received the government-declared minimum wage,” Tamim told The Business Standard after the program.

He also pointed out that some factories fail to properly compensate overtime, even though it is required by law. The CPD suggested that such violations should be categorized as punishable offenses under the Act.

The CPD also emphasized strengthening the government’s oversight of labor law issues.

“Make it mandatory for the Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishments (DIFE) to produce a wage implementation report within four months of setting a new minimum wage, and publicly disclose the names of non-compliant establishments,” Tamim suggested.