DHAKA, Feb 17, 2025 (BSS) - 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.

Bangladesh Labur 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.