The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority is planning to form a fund to ensure payment of wages and benefits to workers of factories that shut down or suspended operations.
The authority, however, is yet to decide who would contribute to the fund.
BEPZA executive chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman on Sunday said that many factories often failed to continue operations or shut down their operations due to various reasons, leaving workers鈥� dues unpaid for months.
鈥楾o resolve this crisis, we are working to raise a fund so that workers can receive their due wages and benefits even if the factory is unable to pay those,鈥� he said.
He was speaking at the 鈥楴otice of award ceremony of the employment injury scheme鈥�, organised by the BEPZA in association with the International Labour Organisation and GIZ at the BEPZA office in the capital Dhaka.
The BEPZA chief also said that a revision of the EPZ Labour Act was under way, with new sections being introduced to strengthen worker welfare and protect their rights in the future.
For the first time, BEPZA launched the EIS Pilot in February 2025 in cooperation with the ILO, GIZ, brands and buyers.
Through the scheme, the BEPZA would offer reliable social protection to workers in the readymade garment factories within its zones.
Under the scheme, any deceased or permanently injured workers, caused by a workplace incident, would get financial benefits as a monthly entitlement, similar to pensions.
Moreover, the EIS provides an additional safety net of the existing benefits that deceased or injured workers receive under the law.
On Sunday, families of two deceased workers from the Dhaka and Chattogram EPZs, and one permanently disabled worker from the Cumilla EPZ, received their notices of award.
Abul Kalam said that they would expand this scheme to cover the rest of the industries with diverse products.
鈥極ur long-term vision is clear, no worker shall be left behind in the pursuit of inclusive social protection,鈥� he said.
鈥楾his notice of award is a solemn symbol of our unwavering commitment to stand beside our workers during their most vulnerable moments,鈥� he added.
鈥楾he EIS is a collective responsibility of the government, the employers, the workers and the sourcing brands, and we are building a globally recognised safety net that would uplift lives and elevate Bangladesh鈥檚 reputation on the world stage,鈥� he added.
Max Tunon, country director (designated) of the ILO Bangladesh, said that while no financial support could replace a life, timely compensation provided families with the stability they needed to rebuild.
鈥楾he ILO remains fully committed to working with BEPZA and partners to expand and strengthen this scheme so more workers in Bangladesh might benefit,鈥� he said.
鈥楾he insurance scheme would gradually expand to include more formal factory workers, ensuring stronger social protection in the future,鈥� he added.
Michael Klode, representative of GIZ, said that the scheme would reflect a shared responsibility for protecting workers and employers alike.
Md Munir Hossain Khan, director general of the central fund of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said that this initiative demonstrated how the government, employers, workers, and international partners could unite to build a safer and more inclusive labour market.
Md Ashraful Kabir, member (investment promotion) of BEPZA, delivered a welcome speech at the ceremony.
According to the BEPZA, currently it operates eight EPZs across the country, along with the BEPZA economic zone at Mirsharai in Chattogram.
Two new EPZs in Patuakhali and Jashore are under development.
As of August 2025, BEPZA hosted 454 enterprises employing about 5,50,000 workers, with the total investment reaching $7.14 billion and cumulative exports $120.46 billion.
