Fix minimum wage on the basis of market prices

The Daily Star
Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Fix minimum wage on the basis of market prices
RMG workers' leaders demand

Garments workers' leaders at a roundtable yesterday asked the owners of garments to increase the minimum wages of the workers saying that it should be fixed on the basis of current market prices.

However, the owners' representatives said that the issue of increasing the wages should be fixed on the basis of consensus of all stakeholders and considering the global situation as the garment sector have started to have effects of global downturn.

Meanwhile, opining for increasing the wages of the workers, the government representative said the government is taking the issue seriously and trying to solve the issue considering interest of all.

Bangladesh Garment Sramik Oikya Parishad organised the roundtable styled 'Garment industry and minimum wage of the workers in the current context' at Cirdap auditorium in the city.

Wajedul Islam Khan of Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra said the wages the workers are getting is too inadequate in the context of current market prices.

"Now the minimum wage for the workers is Tk 1662 and it should be increased to Tk 4,500," he said adding the garment industry cannot thrive as a booming industry unless the rights of the workers are ensured.

Reading out a keynote paper, noted economist Prof MM Akash said the minimum wage fixed for the garment workers is the lowest in the world.

Considering the current market prices, the minimum wage of the workers should be Tk 4500, he said.

Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Director Harun-ar-Rashid said it is not correct that the minimum wage is Tk 1,662 rather they are giving the amount to the inexperienced workers at entry level.

"More or less we are giving Tk 2,500 to 3,000 on an average to workers," he added.

The buying orders and prices of the product fall significantly across the world for last couple of months due to global meltdown, he said adding that the cost has also increased and they are also suffering from storage of electricity and gas.

Shahjahan Khan MP, chairman of the standing committee on labour and employment ministry, said once a minimum wage is announced it remained unchanged for years after years.

The minimum wage should be fixed by analysing the market prices in every three years, he said adding that the issue will be placed in the next standing committee meeting and they will discuss the matter to find out solutions.