The first meeting of the garment workers’ wage board came to an end without placing proposals from any parties at the office of the minimum wage board in the capital on Wednesday.
However, the board members expected that they will be able to recommend a specific sum as the minimum monthly wage for more than four million RMG workers in the coming meetings, where both parties may place their proposals.
Earlier on April 9, the Ministry of Labor and Employment formed the wage board of four permanent members, led by Senior District Judge Liaquat Ali Molla, to review the pay of RMG employees.
Moksud Belal Siddiqui, a representative for the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation, Sultan Ahmed, a leader for the Jatiya Sramik League and Dhaka University Prof Md Kamal Uddin, an independent member, make up the three other members of the board.
Moreover, the ministry also announced the names of two members – former president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Md Siddiqur Rahman and Bangladesh National Garments Workers Employees League President Sirajul Islam Rony as owners’ and workers’ representatives, respectively.
Regarding the first meeting, Board Chairman Liaquat Ali Mollah told the media that they introduced themselves to each other as it was the first meeting.
“We discussed the overall situation of the sector and the wage structure of the past years,” he added.
He also said that in accordance with the past year’s wages, they will fix a new wage by discussing the proposals of both parties.
Former BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman said that they have to think about the industry and the well-being of the workers of the sector.
“In this regard, the owners and the workers both have to work together to fulfill the well-being of the workers. The government also has a vital role in this regard as the RMG sector is the largest manufacturing sector of the country,” he added.
In the wage board, there are representatives from owners, workers and an independent representative, and they are hopeful that they can reach a final decision by the due time.
“On the first day, we considered the global economic situation, the current situation of the country’s RMG sector and the situation of the workers. We are working to set a win-win situation for all while keeping the overall situation in mind,” he added.
Regarding a question on the minimum wage, he said that they haven’t set any amount yet and they are asked to prepare proposals in this regard in the next meeting.
He also said that the RMG sector provides an annual increment of 5% regularly.
In the next meeting, the representatives from owners and workers will submit proposals from their ends, attendees of the meeting said.
Workers’ representative Sirajul Islam Rony said that they will discuss the matters with everyone and then submit a proposal.
As per the Bangladesh Labour Act and labour rules, the government will form a new wage board every five years and it will set a new wage structure.
In December 2018, the government-nominated board declared a new pay structure, fixing minimum wages at Tk8,000 per month.
Beginning in early 2022, RMG workers staged demonstrations several times demanding the formation of a new wage board and Tk24,000 as the monthly minimum wage, citing skyrocketing inflation in the country.
