18 demands of workers to be met: Secretary

Garment owners have decided to accept all 18 demands of garment workers including raising the attendance bonus by Tk 225 and implementing minimum wage at all factories by October.

The decision came on Tuesday after extensive discussions between RMG owners and workers at a meeting held in the ministry’s conference room at the Secretariat, said A.H.M. Safiquzzaman, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Adviser to the Ministry of Labour and Employment Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs Adilur Rahman Khan, and Fishers and Livestock Adviser Miz Farida Akhtar were present at the meeting.

It was decided that workers will receive an additional Tk 225 as an attendance bonus, with a Tk 10 increase in the existing night shift pay and Tk 10 added to the current meal allowance, raising it to a minimum of Tk 100.

Besides, the government-mandated minimum wage must be implemented across all factories by October and essential goods will be supplied at affordable prices through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) in labour-intensive areas, with plans to expand the food ministry’s food-friendly program.

All due wages must be paid by October 10; otherwise, legal action will be taken against the responsible parties and the technical team will review issues related to the biometric blacklisting of workers, with a report due by October.

As per their demand, a central monitoring system will be established to prevent local political influence and extortion in the waste trade, taking workers’ interests into account.

Besides, all harassment and political cases against workers, including those from the 2023 wage movement, will be reviewed and settled through the law ministry, with compensation for the families of four deceased workers.

Moreover, recruitment practices will ensure no gender discrimination based on job type and a comprehensive list of compensation and medical care for victims of the July uprising will be submitted to the ministry by labour leaders.

As per their demand, a committee has been formed to address the needs of victims of the Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashion disasters, with recommendations due by October 2024.

Besides, all factories will be required to establish day-care centres as per labour laws and workers cannot be dismissed unjustly or in violation of labour laws.

It was decided that women workers would now be entitled to 120 days of maternity leave.

A committee led by an additional secretary will review the minimum wage regulations within six months and amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 (amended 2018) will be completed by December 2024 after consultations with all stakeholders.

Workers will receive service benefits according to labour laws, the discussion will be held to review the contributory provident fund in alignment with best practices from other countries and a a committee will recommend an adjustment to the minimum wage by November 2024, considering current inflation rates.