Dhaka:Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced on Monday that the minimum wage for garment workers will be set soon following necessary discussions.
According to United News of Bangladesh, a Wage Board has been established with representatives from both workers and employers. The board is expected to hold its first meeting shortly to discuss and finalize the minimum wage within a designated timeframe. This announcement was made during a meeting with leaders of garment industry associations, including the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
The Home Minister alleged that some industrial owners, including former MPs and ministers, were involved in inciting labor unrest in the garment sector and had connections with banned organizations. He warned that any efforts to create instability under the guise of labor movements would be met with firm action. The Prime Minister has emphasized the need to protect workers' interests and improve their living standards, ensuring that all relevant factors are considered empathetically when determining wages.
The current wage cycle, which lasts three years, is set to conclude in December. The board will consult all stakeholders to determine the minimum wage in accordance with current realities, and the minister assured that there is no cause for unrest. He pointed out that certain groups linked to the ousted autocratic regime have been using workers to create instability.
Salahuddin Ahmed stated that some industrial owners and groups, operating under the banner of labor organizations, have been involved in fueling unrest and violence, which does not serve workers' interests. Recent legal actions have been taken against such individuals, with evidence collected through video footage and recordings. The minister also requested cooperation from employers to identify industrial owners who have deliberately closed their factories.
He stressed that genuine workers and labor union leaders would not engage in activities that harm their own livelihoods. The minister urged anyone unknowingly involved in such activities to cease immediately. The meeting was also attended by Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, Prime Minister's Adviser Mahdi Amin, and Advocate Shamsur Rahman Simul Biswas, MP for Pabna-5 and chief coordinator of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal.