The Government has appointed three new permanent representatives to the Minimum Wage Board, as announced by officials from the Labour Ministry.
Asif Ayub, joint secretary of the Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF), has been named as the new permanent member representing employers. Anwar Hossain, president of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, will serve as the permanent representative for workers. They replace the previous members, Moksud Belal Siddique of BEF and Sultan Ahmad from the Jatiya Sramik League.
Additionally, Dhaka University professor Md Nazim Uddin Bhuiyan has been appointed as the independent member of the board, taking over from fellow professor Md Kamal Uddin.
The Minimum Wage Board is composed of six members, including a chairman, two permanent representatives each from the owners and workers, and one independent member. During wage reviews, two temporary members from relevant sectors are also appointed.
According to the Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006, wages are to be reviewed every five years across 42 formal sectors. However, a recent study highlighted that nearly 47.6 per cent of these sectors—20 out of 42—have not seen any regular wage increases in the past six to forty years.
The study pointed out significant challenges in the wage declaration process by the Minimum Wage Board, including delays, controversies surrounding worker representation, and a lack of transparency in wage calculations. It indicated that the methodology for wage calculation is not publicly disclosed, and independent members do not provide their own assessments.
Moreover, the research noted that political influences could sway wage decisions, particularly in sectors like tea, with declared wages often falling short of workers’ expectations.
