The Ministry of Labour and Employment on Sunday approved a Tk 68.50 crore budget for the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation for the FY27, alongside financial grants worth Tk 12.98 crore for 2,199 workers and their families from both formal and informal sectors.

The decisions were taken at the 34th board meeting of the Foundation, held at the ministry's conference room on Sunday afternoon, with Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury presiding.

Speaking at the meeting, the minister said ensuring the welfare of the working class, standing by them in times of crisis, and strengthening the social safety net remain among the government's top priorities.

He said workers from both the formal and informal sectors continue to labour tirelessly, day and night, to keep the national economy moving and production systems running, adding that the country's development journey is being accelerated on the strength of their sweat and unrelenting effort.

The minister said the goal is to ensure that no working person feels alone in times of distress, noting that the ministry and the Foundation remain committed to protecting the rights and life security of workers at all times.

He expressed confidence that a balanced, work-friendly and exploitation-free labour policy and environment could be built through the coordinated efforts of government officials, employers and workers' organisations.

Labour and Employment Secretary Md Abdur Rahman Tarafder, Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Foundation Director General Mohammad Kuddus Ali Sarker, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal President Anwar Hossain, representatives from various ministries, and representatives from both workers' and employers' sides were present at the meeting.