A new wage structure for RMG will come into effect from 1st December, according to State Minister for Labour & Employment
Summary:
The new wage structure for the readymade garment workers is expected to be finalized by the 30th of November, according to Begum Monnujan Sufian, the State Minister for Labour and Employment. The new structure will become effective from the 1st of December this year. The statement was made on Sunday, the 29th of October, providing hope for workers who have been eagerly waiting for an increase in their wages. The move will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the livelihoods of these workers, who play a crucial role in the country’s economy.
Content:
During an emergency meeting with trade union and federation leaders at Shromo Bhavan, she made an announcement regarding the ongoing situation in the industrial zones. She raised questions about the back-story behind the strike and asked if there were any benefits for workers in a vandalized workplace. She emphasized the importance of ensuring peace in the workplace, as it is crucial for positive outcomes for employees.
According to an official, if any factory gets vandalized, the workers working there will be the first ones to be affected. There has been a delay in decision making by the RMG wage board despite receiving proposals from both workers and factory owners’ representatives. This delay provides an opportunity to discuss more and reach a final decision. Recently, some factories have been shut down and vandalized. The garment industry is very important for the country’s economy and we should not do anything that can harm this industry.
During the fourth meeting of the minimum wage board, the readymade garments factory owners proposed a minimum monthly wage of Tk10, 400 which was significantly lower than the proposal made by the worker’s organizations, who demanded a minimum wage of Tk20,393. However, both proposals were rejected by various labor rights groups, who instead demanded a minimum monthly wage of Tk23,000 to Tk25,000. The Industrial Bangladesh Council (IBC), which consists of 18 labor federations, also demanded a minimum wage of Tk23,000, along with a basic wage of 65% and an annual increment of 10%. At the meeting, a ruling Awami League Presidium member, Shajahan Khan, expressed concerns about external influences that seemed to be inciting the workers and prompting unnecessary demonstrations. He urged the timely announcement of an acceptable wage structure to address the issue.
Picture and Article Source: The Business Standard
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