Dhaka:Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury has called on garment workers to return to their workplaces, stating that their demand for the formation of a wage board to determine the minimum wage has been met.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Choudhury made this announcement after revealing the establishment of a six-member wage board tasked with determining new wages for garment workers. The announcement was made at his ministry at the Secretariat.
Choudhury expressed concerns that a vested interest group might be encouraging workers to protest in the streets, potentially destabilizing the situation ahead of December. He suggested that there could be external influences behind these protests. The minister emphasized that the wage board, formed in accordance with the Labour Act, would begin its activities immediately, with a meeting scheduled to discuss and decide on the workers' minimum wage.
The wage board is headed by Senior District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Ashfaqur Rahman and includes members such as Dhaka University Public Administration Department Professor Dr. Mosleh Uddin Ahmad, Bangladesh Employers' Federation Joint Secretary General Asif Ayub, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Central Committee President Anwar Hossain, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Director ABM Shamsuddin, and Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation General Secretary Babul Akhter.
Earlier discussions took place at Srama Bhaban in Bijoynagar, involving representatives from the BGMEA and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). Addressing the demands raised by labour leaders, Choudhury acknowledged the government's responsibilities and expressed a commitment to addressing these issues through dialogue, emphasizing the need to protect industries while ensuring the fulfilment of workers' legitimate demands.