Bangladesh
Garment Workers Minimum wage for garment workers to be Tk 12,500, effective from December
Dhaka, Nov 8: The minimum wage of garment workers has been fixed at Tk 12,500. The minimum wage for garment workers was last fixed in 2018. Accordingly, the garment workers were getting a minimum wage of Tk 8,000. The minimum wage has increased by Tk 4,500 compared to earlier.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Mannujan Sufian announced the wages at the secretariat on Tuesday (November 7). The state minister also said that the new wages will be effective from December 1.
He said, "On the instructions of the Prime Minister, the new wages have been determined quickly with the representatives of the owners and workers and neutral representatives. Working people have been agitating for a long time to increase wages. A decision has been reached through discussions led by the Chairman of the Wage Board about the owner and the workers."
The state minister said, "If there is any variation in wages, we always approach Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the last resort. On his verbal instructions, today I am announcing the minimum wage for garment factory workers. Here there is the interest of the working people and the state. If the industry survives, the workers will survive. Industry is closely related to workers. Wages are being announced keeping both sides in mind."
Stating that the wages will increase by 56.25 percent, the state minister said, "Tk 8,000 to Tk 12,500 has been made. Five percent increment is maintained.''
He further said, "The workers have a demand for ration. There, the Prime Minister said, a family card for a family will have as many members as can manage the card. Later, the Prime Minister said to introduce the rationing system through this card."
"I will appeal to everyone who is a labor leader and owner, you will open the factory, I will tell the labor brothers to join the work. I would appeal to both sides for the owners to play a tolerant role. This is because people do a lot of things because of their stomach, whether they make mistakes or make mistakes in this movement. By looking at them with a forgiving eye, they can participate properly in the work," he said.
Mannujan Sufian said, "I will tell the labor brothers and sisters that art is your life. If this industry is closed, you, the owner, will suffer first, but you will suffer later. So keeping that in mind, go about your work peacefully and make the factory work. The wheel of economy is with you. Don't let that wheel stop. You will join the work and bring industrial peace, you have contributed to the development of the country. It is our request not to listen to any kind of provocative words."
