The European Union (EU) and Germany have provided EUR 33 million, equivalent to Tk 330 crore, for the Government of Bangladesh to strengthen key areas of its social security system and build resilience to Covid-19, with a particular focus on affected workers in export-oriented industries.
Established in October last year, the government’s Social Protection Programme for Unemployed and Distressed Workers in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG), Leathergoods and Footwear Industries is featured as an important response measure.
With this grant, the EU and Germany recognise and support the government’s commitment to strengthening social security in Bangladesh, along with its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This is the second disbursement from the joint EUR 113 million grant made available by the EU and Germany as part of the Team Europe’s response to fight Covid-19 and its consequences in Bangladesh, said a statement of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh on Wednesday.
EU Ambassador Rensje Teerink and German Ambassador Peter Fahrenholtz encouraged the government to ensure appropriate social protection system and hoped that the support will reach as many eligible workers as possible.
Funds are channelled through the budget support programme on National Social Security Strategy reforms in Bangladesh.
The disbursement of this second payment came after a positive decision of the Budget Support Steering Committee (SSC) of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development in June 2021, reads the EU statement.
