Looks like all the clamour over BDT 16,000 minimum wage for Bangladesh’s apparel workers will not become a fight in reality, as today’s wage board meeting saw suggestions of much lower rate from both labour leaders and apparel manufacturers.
“The owners proposed a minimum wage-rate of BDT 6,360, up by 20 per cent from the previous rate of BDT 5,300”, Siddiqur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told journalists at a post-meeting press briefing.
According to meeting insiders, the owners cited rising cost of business and stiff competition in the global market as main causes behind recommending the clumsy raise. The pay structure consists of BDT 3,600 as basic and the remainder for other allowances.
“On the other hand, labour leaders proposed BDT 12,020 as minimum wage for the workers”, Shamsun Nahar Bhuiyan, Workers’ Representative at the board, said at a press briefing. They asked for BDT 7,500 as basic, and the remainder for other allowances.
This was the third meeting of the government-formed wage board, which was constituted with all stakeholders in January last, where all parties were asked to come forward with recommendations for minimum wage of the workers.
The next meeting, which will ponder over the propositions, has been slated for August 29. Meanwhile, it is expected to be a blow to pro-labour organisations which have been campaigning for a minimum wage of BDT 16,000. They said it was necessary considering the rising living cost of workers, who are now paid the lowest in the world.
