CPD proposes a minimum wage of Tk 17,568 for RMG workers

The minimum wage for the RMG workers should be Tk 17,568 under grade 7, representing the entry-level grade in the sector.

The proposal was unveiled by CPD Research Director Khondokar Golam Moazzem during a dialogue titled "Readjusting Minimum Wages in Garments Sector: Observations and Recommendations" at Lakeshore Hotel in the capital on Sunday.

The research institute said that they are making this proposal after researching 228 workers in 76 factories.

CPD research director Khandokar Golam Moazzem and senior research assistant Tamim Ahmed presented the keynote at the event.

CPD said, a large number of workers are being crushed by the inflation. Garment workers in Bangladesh earn the lowest wages among South Asian countries.

Non-food expenditure of garment workers increased by 25 percent in 2023 compared to 2022. Around 77 percent of the workers cannot make any savings.

With an increase of seven cents per garment, the pay structure proposed by the CPD could be implemented.

The standard food cost for each family is required TK 16529. But the RMG workers are being able to spend TK 9198. For grade 7 workers the gap is even higher. They can only spend TK 5344.  

Currently, the minimum wage for garment workers set by the wage board on December 1, 2018, stands at Tk8,000.