Summary :

All the multinational enterprises across the globe in developing countries like Bangladesh are encouraged to offer the best possible conditions of work including working time. As our country depends on the export-oriented ready-made garments heavily for their export value and foreign currencies, the government has allowed additional two-hours overtime for six months during the pandemic situation. Although some conditions and safety measures have been taken into account.

Content :

Additional work refers to work in between agreed working hours and the maximum number of regular working hours specified in the Working Hours Act. According to the labor law, a worker in a garment factory works eight hours a day and 48 hours a week. Now they will be able to work ten hours per day subject to their consent.

So, the employee’s consent is always required for performing additional and overtime work. In principle, the employee must consent to additional or overtime work before such work is started. Now, the factories are permitted to ask workers of they want to do additional work on the condition of giving double wages for the additional period.

On April 13, Labour and employment ministry issued a circular to this effect, exempting the apparel sector from labor law provisions of 100, 102, and 105.

The six-month conditional waiver has come into effect from 17^th April, according to the circular.

Although workers are allowed to work extra for four hours a day, the factories can not force them to work overtime for more than four hours per day. Additionally, the eight point condition also included ensuring the Covid-19 Health and safety guideline issued by the government authorities concerned.

Source: The Financial Express