- Economy /
- The workers' minimum wage is Tk 8,000
A H Khan
Published:2018-09-15 19:38:43 BdST
The workers' minimum wage is Tk 8,000
Workers' representatives were demanding Tk 12,000. Owners said that 6 thousand 360 was enough. The Prime Minister's personal initiative ultimately up to 8 thousand taka has been fixed Minimum monthly wages for the garment workers.
The minimum monthly wages for the last clothing workers were announced in 2013, Tk 5,300. That means, after five years, their minimum monthly wage is increasing 51 percent. Before that, the minimum wage of garment workers announced in 2010 was Tk 3,000. In addition, in 2006, the wages of the country's largest industrial sector were declared monthly in 1 thousand 662 and in 1994, 930 in 1994.
The fifth meeting of the board was formed yesterday to determine the new wage structure for garment workers. State Minister for Labor Mujibul Haque announced the decision on wage after the meeting with the board members.
According to labor minister's information, the minimum wage structure has been fixed at Tk 8,000 monthly. Of these, the basic salary is 4 thousand 100, house rent 2 thousand 50, medical allowance 600, travel 350 and food allowance 900 Tk.
The Prime Minister took personal initiative to fix the wage, said the State Minister for Labor. He said that when the deadline for wage revision was created, the Prime Minister discussed the matter with the owner and the workers. Considering the overall aspect, the Prime Minister gave the decision to make minimum wages of garments workers Tk 8,000. That is, the worker who will be employed today, he will receive monthly wages in all 8 thousand taka. Thus, according to the grade, they will get the wages that they are. But if a worker enters a new factory, the factory owner will not be able to pay him under 8 thousand rupees in any way. We think that the decision made by the Prime Minister is timely and logical for both parties. Members of the wage board also agreed with it. It will be effective immediately, as soon as it becomes effective, the owners will accept it.
Asked when the new wage will be effective, the State Minister of Labor said, 5 years will end in December. However, it will be effective since the Gazette. There is a time until December, the gazette will be published in time.
The first meeting was held on 19 March after the formation of the wage board. Second meeting was held on July 8, three months after the first meeting. On July 16, the third meeting of the Board, the owners proposed a new wage for the lowest wage of 6 thousand 360. Workers' proposal was 12,000 rupees. The fourth meeting was decided to reduce the distance between the two sides. Both sides agreed to accept it and the fifth meeting was scheduled to be held on September 12, but it was canceled. The minimum wage was finalized yesterday in the last 5 months. But before that, the negotiations between the workers and the owners regarding the fixing of wages were also made.
BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman, the owner of the wage board, said, "We offered 6 thousand 360 and the workers Tk 12 thousand 20 after the wage board chairman urged us to come to a nearby place. In view of this, we agreed to go up to 7 thousand taka. Workers' representatives are left to 12 thousand rupees. Then we wish PM's intervention. After meeting with the Prime Minister, we agreed to pay 8 thousand under his instructions. Since the Prime Minister gave us the instruction, so in hundreds of adversities we agreed at 8 thousand taka. It will be effective with the next December salary.
The wage board also feels that the minimum wage is worth 8 thousand rupees. Chairman of the Board, Senior District Judge Syed Aminul Islam said that the owners did not want to get upwards of 7 thousand rupees. When neither the two parties agreed, they discussed this with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has told to raise Tk 1,000 more after hearing everything. We also unanimously thought that the minimum wages of 8 thousand rupees were logical. Based on this we made recommendations.
Considering the cost of living, the monthly salary of the workers is not enough to pay the wages, but the labor representatives of the board have accepted. Begum Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan, the women's affairs secretary of the workers' union Jatiya Sramik League, said, 8 thousand taka will not say that the living standards of the workers and everything is too much together. The deadlock created due to the owners' proposal of 6,360 rupees. Later we sat with the Prime Minister. He said that for all factories, one framework must be set. If I'm alive then I'll see it again later. He said, with the help of the BGMEA president, like the kids, and accept it. He also said to me, do not be upset, I know you could not be satisfied. But there is no way, everyone is looking. Owners are also ours, and 40 million people who work here are also ours. There are many educated unemployed people who have not been able to arrange employment. Let me live, my government will come again, if we implement 100 ECONOMIC ZONE, then none of us will be unemployed. We accepted the Prime Minister's proposal of Tk 8 thousand .
The minimum monthly wages for the last clothing workers were announced in 2013, Tk 5,300. That means, after five years, their minimum monthly wage is increasing 51 percent. Before that, the minimum wage of garment workers announced in 2010 was Tk 3,000. In addition, in 2006, the wages of the country's largest industrial sector were declared monthly in 1 thousand 662 and in 1994, 930 in 1994.
The fifth meeting of the board was formed yesterday to determine the new wage structure for garment workers. State Minister for Labor Mujibul Haque announced the decision on wage after the meeting with the board members.
According to labor minister's information, the minimum wage structure has been fixed at Tk 8,000 monthly. Of these, the basic salary is 4 thousand 100, house rent 2 thousand 50, medical allowance 600, travel 350 and food allowance 900 Tk.
The Prime Minister took personal initiative to fix the wage, said the State Minister for Labor. He said that when the deadline for wage revision was created, the Prime Minister discussed the matter with the owner and the workers. Considering the overall aspect, the Prime Minister gave the decision to make minimum wages of garments workers Tk 8,000. That is, the worker who will be employed today, he will receive monthly wages in all 8 thousand taka. Thus, according to the grade, they will get the wages that they are. But if a worker enters a new factory, the factory owner will not be able to pay him under 8 thousand rupees in any way. We think that the decision made by the Prime Minister is timely and logical for both parties. Members of the wage board also agreed with it. It will be effective immediately, as soon as it becomes effective, the owners will accept it.
Asked when the new wage will be effective, the State Minister of Labor said, 5 years will end in December. However, it will be effective since the Gazette. There is a time until December, the gazette will be published in time.
The first meeting was held on 19 March after the formation of the wage board. Second meeting was held on July 8, three months after the first meeting. On July 16, the third meeting of the Board, the owners proposed a new wage for the lowest wage of 6 thousand 360. Workers' proposal was 12,000 rupees. The fourth meeting was decided to reduce the distance between the two sides. Both sides agreed to accept it and the fifth meeting was scheduled to be held on September 12, but it was canceled. The minimum wage was finalized yesterday in the last 5 months. But before that, the negotiations between the workers and the owners regarding the fixing of wages were also made.
BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman, the owner of the wage board, said, "We offered 6 thousand 360 and the workers Tk 12 thousand 20 after the wage board chairman urged us to come to a nearby place. In view of this, we agreed to go up to 7 thousand taka. Workers' representatives are left to 12 thousand rupees. Then we wish PM's intervention. After meeting with the Prime Minister, we agreed to pay 8 thousand under his instructions. Since the Prime Minister gave us the instruction, so in hundreds of adversities we agreed at 8 thousand taka. It will be effective with the next December salary.
The wage board also feels that the minimum wage is worth 8 thousand rupees. Chairman of the Board, Senior District Judge Syed Aminul Islam said that the owners did not want to get upwards of 7 thousand rupees. When neither the two parties agreed, they discussed this with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has told to raise Tk 1,000 more after hearing everything. We also unanimously thought that the minimum wages of 8 thousand rupees were logical. Based on this we made recommendations.
Considering the cost of living, the monthly salary of the workers is not enough to pay the wages, but the labor representatives of the board have accepted. Begum Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan, the women's affairs secretary of the workers' union Jatiya Sramik League, said, 8 thousand taka will not say that the living standards of the workers and everything is too much together. The deadlock created due to the owners' proposal of 6,360 rupees. Later we sat with the Prime Minister. He said that for all factories, one framework must be set. If I'm alive then I'll see it again later. He said, with the help of the BGMEA president, like the kids, and accept it. He also said to me, do not be upset, I know you could not be satisfied. But there is no way, everyone is looking. Owners are also ours, and 40 million people who work here are also ours. There are many educated unemployed people who have not been able to arrange employment. Let me live, my government will come again, if we implement 100 ECONOMIC ZONE, then none of us will be unemployed. We accepted the Prime Minister's proposal of Tk 8 thousand .
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