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Published on December 21, 2015
The approval was given in the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held on Monday at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said that Bangladesh is adopting such policy as the country is a signatory to the 189 section of the Geneva Convention. The policy highlights in details the recognition of the housemaids' job as 'labour', ensuring their protection, welfare, leisure, entertainment and leaves alongside ensuring their congenial and decent working environment, he said.
Shafiul Alam said that the Policy has been framed in the light of the Labour Law. Minimum age of the housemaids should be 14 years for light works. The housemaids above 18 years would only be eligible for heavy works.
The cabinet secretary said the salaries of the housemaids would be determined upon mutual agreement between the house owner and the housemaids while the housemaids can never be subjected to any kind of oppression, indecent behaviour or physical and mental torture.
The policy has specific provisions of punishment under the existing law including penal code and the 'Women and Child Repression Prevention Act' in case of physical and mental torture, he said.
The Workers Welfare Foundation would oversee ensuring the facilities of the housemaids, he said adding that the government would introduce 'help line' for the housemaids in addition to awareness campaign.
Cabinet also has given final approval to the draft of "The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Bill-2015" to boost investment in the country and ensure efficient use of unused lands of the public sector industries.
The cabinet secretary said the new draft has been placed merging the Board of Investment (BoI) and the Privatisation Commission into Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) According to the draft proposal all officials and employees working under the BoI and Privatisation Commission would be transferred to the BIDA and all the assets and liabilities of the two organizations would also be owned by BIDA.
About the structure of the new authority, the cabinet secretary said a 17-member governing board of the BIDA would be formed with the Prime Minister as chairman and the Finance Minister as vice-chairman.
Ministers of the ministries concerned like Commerce, Industries, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and Land would be members of the board while a six- member Executive Committee headed by an Executive Chairman will be appointed by the government.
The cabinet also approved in principle the draft of the 'Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Bill-2015' and a proposal to pay the amount of Capital Subscription and Paid in part of Bangladesh government. Under the draft law, Bangladesh will have to pay $132 Million in the next ten years as capital subscription on installment basis for AIIB.
The cabinet also gave its final approval to the draft of "The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation Bill, 2015' translating the original law of 1957 into Bangla.
Besides, the cabinet reviewed a draft of the President's Speech to be delivered at the opening session of the 10th Parliament in 2016. The draft would be finalized accommodating more information to be available from some ministries, the cabinet secretary said.
Ministers and state ministers in charge of various ministries and concerned secretaries attended the meeting.
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