European diplomats participating in a recent event being held in the capital Dhaka have emphasised that the Taka 8,000 minimum wage, which was established for garment workers approximately five years ago, is insufficient to support a healthy standard of living.
EU Ambassador Charles Whitely underscored the fact that it has been five years since the last wage revision in the garment sector when the minimum wage was set at Taka 8,000 even as he commented, “It’s difficult to envision maintaining a healthy lifestyle on that salary, especially if you have children to support.”
Whitely pointed out that the responsibility for addressing these challenges doesn’t rest solely with the Government or the industry but also extends to brands and buyers.
He called for genuine engagement and partnerships among all stakeholders to tackle the issues faced by workers.
The EU Ambassador stated, “So, the responsibility doesn’t lie solely with the Government or the industry; brands and buyers also share it, and there are successful examples of meaningful collaboration and partnership among brands.”
Referring to a UN report, Thijs Woudstra, Charge D’Affaires at the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh, emphasised the need for Bangladesh to transition away from the “low wage trap” as it graduates from LDC status.
He stressed that there are no viable alternatives to improving working conditions and wages, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive reassessment of labour policies in the sector.
Both diplomats emphasised that the issues related to fair wages and working conditions for the approximately 4.5 million RMG workers need to be addressed urgently.
