RMG workers' min. wage Tk 12,500

Garment workers' minimum wage has been fixed at Tk 12,500 on an increase of 56.25 per cent over the present monthly pay, an official announcement said Tuesday, amid violent labour protests.

The revised minimum wage comes after a gap of five years.

The Minimum Wage Board formed by the government for the export-oriented readymade garment (RMG) industry framed the wage structure at its 6th meeting earlier in the day with the presence of sector stakeholders.

However, the labour representatives dismissed the decision as unacceptable, urging a reassessment while opting to carry on their agitations to realise their demand for setting the minimum wage at Tk 25,000.

Siddiqur Rahman, the owners' representative on the wage board and former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and RMG workers' representative Sirajul Islam Rony were among others present at the meeting.

Begum Monnujan Sufian, State Minister for Labour and Employment, announced the decision at a press conference at the Bangladesh Secretariat after the latest round of hectic negotiations that halved the labour demand.

She stated, "We are making this announcement in accordance with the Prime Minister's verbal directive. The minimum wage will see a 56.25-percent increase, rising from Tk 8,000 to Tk 12,500. Additionally, there will be a 5.0-percent annual increment."

During the press conference, Liaquat Ali Mollah, chairman of the wage board, Faruque Hassan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), AKM Salim Osman of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), also former president of BGMEA, Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin and Sirajul Islam, the workers' representative on the Minimum Wage Board, among others, also were present.

The meeting over, workers' representative Sirajul Islam Rony said, "Considering the practical aspects of the RMG industry and the directives of the prime minister, the workers will comply with the decision made by the board."

However, Taslima Akhter, president of Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity, outright rejected the decision of minimum wage board for apparel workers as it did not reflect the desire of 4.0-million workers in the industry.

"The prices of essential commodities witnessed a hike ranging from 200 to 500 per cent. So how the workers can cope with the existing wage structure," lamented Taslima, who is also a coordinator for the garment workers' movement for increase in wages (an alliance of 11 national garment organisations).

"We have already taken a demonstration programme for November 10 in protest and for reconsidering the decision," she told the press.

"A greater movement will be announced on the day," she said in advance, as the labour protests went on amid acts of arson and vandalism. At the press conference, it was announced that an official notice regarding the new wage scales will be published in the gazette within the next 14 days.

The workers' wages will be categorised into five different grades from existing seven grades. The basic wage will be Tk 6,700 out of the overall Tk 12,500.

The revised wage structure will be implemented with effect from December 1. Workers will start receiving their wages according to the new structure from the start of January.

During the wage-board meeting, the owners of the country's apparel industry proposed a minimum wage of Tk 12,500 for the workers.

Representatives from the workers also attended the meeting at 12:00 noon, while representatives from the RMG owners joined at 12:10pm. The meeting, originally scheduled to begin at 11:00am, commenced at 12:20pm.

Over the past two weeks, the garment workers have been agitating to press home their demand for a minimum wage between Tk 23,000 and Tk 25,000.

The outbreaks unrest in the RMG hubs led to temporary closure of many factories.

However, majority of the readymade garment factories closed amid labour unrest started reopening Saturday, but many workers continued their demonstrations until Tuesday.

Earlier, in the 5th meeting held on November 1, workers' representative Sirajul Islam Rony proposed a minimum wage of Tk 20,394 for the industry workers. On the other hand, representing the owners of the garment factories, Siddiqur Rahman proposed a minimum wage of Tk 10,400. Both parties presented their proposals emphasising their respective justifications.

Asked about some trade-union organizations' rejection of the new wage, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Faruque Hassan said they had talked to almost all labour organizations and explained the current situation.

He said Tk 12,500 as monthly wage is for an entry-level worker who has no experience or even education and his or her total wages are expected to range between Tk 16,000 and Tk 20,000 as there are some other allowances, including attendance and overtime.

"There is also a five-percent annual increment," the industry leader said about the package of pay.

In 2018, some Tk 2700 was raised while this time Tk 4,500 being increased, he further noted, adding that the amended labour law has also increased some other benefits.

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