
The fifth meeting of the Minimum Wages Board concluded on Wednesday without reaching a final decision on new wages for the readymade garment (RMG) workers in Bangladesh.
This is as per reports, which added despite this, Liaquat Ali Mollah, the chairman of the Minimum Wages Board, indicated that they had fruitful discussions during the meeting.
The continued delay in determining revised minimum wages is reportedly causing frustration among garment workers, who are persistently protesting for higher minimum wages as they believe that the current minimum wage is insufficient to cover their living expenses.
It may be mentioned here that apparel manufacturers have offered workers a 25 per cent pay increase, ignoring the workers’ demands for a nearly threefold raise in the basic salary, which has been a focal point of discontent among the labour force.
In response to this situation, around 5,000 garment workers, demanding a monthly minimum wage of Taka 23,000 (US $ 208), set up roadblocks in the capital Dhaka.
The protests had started the previous week, but the situation escalated on Monday when tens of thousands of workers left their shifts and staged protests in Gazipur.
Unfortunately, a six-storey factory was set on fire by the disgruntled workers, allegedly resulting in the tragic death of one labourer.
Additionally, another worker reportedly lost his life during clashes between the police and the protesting garment workers.
Unions have raised concerns about the involvement of garment factory owners, some of whom are ministers and influential lawmakers, in setting the minimum wage during previous negotiations.