ASK’s Strong Protest and Condemnation

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) strongly protests and condemns the insensitive statement of BGMEA that the birthrate will raise if the maternity leave is increased.

According to different media, BGMEA sent a proposal to the Ministry of Labour with the aforesaid statement, as the Government proposed to amend the Labour Act, 2006 by fixing the length of maternity leave up to 24 weeks. Moreover, the BGMEA contended that the existing 16 weeks’ maternity leave also seems irrational to them. At the same time, they have argued that the efficiency of the female workers will decrease due to long absence from the work and their tendency to rejoin the work will also decline. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) believes that in Bangladesh, where there are still many obstacles in the way to empowerment, rights and dignity of women; and despite all these impediments, where women are actively participating in the development of the country; such insensitive statement from the leaders of an industry is highly condemnable and unacceptable. Such a stance and argument, only from commercial consideration, shows disregard to the women and children, and above all the future generation of the country. Because, breast feeding and intense care up to six months are the basic rights of every infant. ASK believes that such a statement by the BGMEA is contrary to different initiatives taken by the government to protect the fundamental rights of women and children and at the same time comes as degrading for the women.

We expect that the concerned ministry of the government will consider increasing maternity leave up to 24 weeks in order to protect women rights, child rights and to create a healthy future generation.