Dhaka:Sheikh Ashfaqur Rahman, chairman of the Minimum Wage Board, announced that the board will soon convene its first meeting to establish a new wage structure for ready-made garment (RMG) workers. He assured that the overall process would be completed swiftly.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the first meeting of the previous wage board took place 45 days after the gazette notification, with the entire process taking six to seven months. However, the current process is expected to progress more quickly due to the government's commitment to expedite it.
This development occurs amidst ongoing labor unrest, with workers staging demonstrations and clashing with police in areas such as Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia, and Mirpur. The unrest persists despite the government's recent reconstitution of the wage board on November 1, with Ashfaqur Rahman appointed as chairman.
The wage board comprises several notable members, including Prof Dr. Musleh Uddin Ahmed of Dhaka University as a neutral member, Asif Ayub from the Bangladesh Employers Federation, and Anwar Hossain from the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal. Industry representatives include ABM Shamsuddin and Babul Akhtar. Labor representatives have urged for an immediate meeting, emphasizing the need for swift action to implement new wages by January.
The minimum wage board for RMG workers was first established in 1994, with periodic revisions over the years, the latest being Tk 12,500 in November 2023.