Six-Member Wage Board Announced to Set New Salaries for Garment Workers

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has announced the formation of a six-member wage board to determine new salaries for garment workers. Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury made the announcement at the Secretariat on Sunday, November 1. He said an official notification or gazette would be published later in the day.

Speaking about the decision, the minister said the government had held a nearly four-hour discussion with workers’ organisations, particularly leaders of garment workers. Following the discussion, the government decided to form the wage board on Sunday.

Earlier, on Saturday, October 31, the minister met representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at the Labour Building in Bijoynagar, Dhaka.

The decision to establish the new wage board comes amid ongoing protests by garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.

Meanwhile, garment workers continued their demonstrations on Sunday, blocking roads in Mirpur in the capital and in Gazipur to press for their demand. The protests have disrupted traffic in several areas.