Labour ministry to sit with chambers to discuss 8pm shop closure

The labour ministry is going to sit with top business chambers tomorrow to discuss ways for implementing the directive of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) regarding the closure of shops and kitchen markets from 8 pm to save energy and curb import bills for fuel.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian is expected to chair the meeting, according to a letter issued by the labour and employment ministry today to the leading trade bodies.

In the letter, the ministry invited the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Employers Federation, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, trade bodies of garment and knitwear exporters and Bangladesh Shop Owners Association to the meeting.

The move comes two days after the PMO ordered authorities to ensure that shopping malls, stores and kitchen markets are closed by 8pm every night -- to save electricity amid rising energy prices worldwide following the Russia-Ukraine war.

Meanwhile, the FBCCI urged the government for allowing shops to keep open until the Eid-ul-Azha festival, which is scheduled to take place in the second week of the next month.

The apex chamber made the appeal after a meeting of one of its standing committees held in Dhaka today.