CPD proposes provision for making employers pay extra if workers not paid on time

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has proposed the government to introduce a new provision requiring employers to compensate workers for delays in wage payments.

"Introduce a legal obligation mandating additional payments for each day wages are delayed," said CPD Senior Research Associate Tamim Ahmed.

He put forward the proposal during a discussion titled "Reform in workers' livelihood, workplace safety and rights-related issues: An agenda for the interim government," organised at the CPD office today (12 January) in collaboration with Christian Aid.

CPD suggests new wages within a year for sectors with stagnant pay  

While presenting the keynote, Tamim also proposed significantly increasing penalties for failing to pay the minimum wage, especially in cases of deliberate and repeated violations.

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

"Following the 2018 minimum wage declaration in the garment sector, a study revealed that after three years, 40% of workers still had not received the government-declared minimum wage," Tamim told The Business Standard after the programme.

He also pointed out that some factories fail to properly compensate for overtime work, despite it being legally required. The CPD proposed categorising such violations as punishable offenses under the law.

The CPD also emphasised strengthening government oversight of labour rights issues. 

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