Staff Reporter:
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury said the government will form new wage board tomorrow for the Readymade Garment (RMG) workers.
“The apparels workers need not to stage movement as the decision has been taken based on discussion with the workers’ leaders,” the minister made this comment while addressing a press briefing following a meeting with the representatives of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at Shromo Bhaban in city’s Bijoynagar yesterday.
He said the decision has been taken based on the discussion with the labor leaders for long five hours, adding that the BGMEA and BKMEA leaders have accepted the demand of forming the wage board for the RMG employees.
The minister said the government will form new wage board tomorrow (Nov 1) to set the minimum wage, as garment workers keep up their demand for a monthly minimum of Tk 30,000.
“We will publish a gazette notification announcing the wage board. There should be no reason for further protests after that”, said the minister.
Even about the payment arrears of salary of the workers have also been discussed with the BGMEA and BKMEA leaders and they will hold discussions with the factory owners and take initiatives to ensure payment of outstanding salaries as soon as possible.
The minister accused that some outsiders are trying to provoke the workers who are engaging in the factory. So, the the mass media should expose the real thing through the video footage that who the real workers and who are coming from the outside, he added..
The labor minister said discussions have been held to pay the salaries of the workers by November 7.
If the owners are failed to supply products to buyers and as a result, they may face difficulties in paying workers’ salaries.
Urging the workers to return to work, he said, that the government and factory owners have taken initiatives to fulfill the workers’ demands. Therefore, all concerned, including factory owners and workers, must play a responsible role in maintaining stability in the garment industry.
