Accra:Labour and Employment Secretary Md. Abdur Rahman Tarafder announced that a wage board will soon be established to set new wages for garment sector workers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the nomination process for representatives from both workers and employers to the wage board is currently underway. The Secretary expressed optimism that a gazette notification will be published within the month once nominations are received, allowing the board to begin its operations.
The wage board will include a chairman, an independent member, and representatives for both workers and employers. Specific representatives from the ready-made garment industry will also be part of the board. The board's task will involve considering the economic situation in Bangladesh, wage rates in neighboring countries, and conditions in various factories before making wage decisions, rather than the Ministry setting wages unilaterally.
The Department of Labour has been instructed to start forming the board and has requested nominations from the workers' and employers' sides. Once these are received, the official gazette will be issued.
Addressing recent labor unrest, the Secretary stated that the government is maintaining a positive stance toward the workers' demands and is engaged in ongoing dialogue. Labour leaders are being kept informed about these developments. Tripartite discussions are also ongoing about Labour Rules, with several meetings already conducted.
A meeting of the National Tripartite Consultative Council is scheduled for October 27, chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment, to further discuss the labor situation, including wage board formation and labor rules drafting. The government is also focused on preventing external groups from inciting unrest amid the protests.