Govt to reconsider newly announced wage structure for garment’s workers
Dhaka, Aug 4 (UNB) - Academics and economists at a dialogue on Wednesday urged the government to reconsider the newly announced wage structure for garment workers and take steps to increase the minimum wage at Tk 5,000 by perceiving the expenditure of livelihood.
They said although the government has raised minimum wage at Tk 3,000 from Tk 1668 for garment workers, it is impossible for a worker to meet the cost of livelihood.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) organized the dialogue titled ‘The rationality of garment workers demand’ at CPB auditorium in the city in the afternoon.
Chaired by CPB general secretary Muzahidul Islam Selim, the dialogue was addressed, among others, by economists Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, Prof Anu Muhammad, DU Prof MM Akash, Adv Swadhin Malik and Bina Shikdar.
Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said the garment workers, not owners, established the garment sector as an industry, although they get meager salary.
He said the garment owners will able to make profit by increasing the workers’ minimum wage at Tk 5,000, if they want to increase the productivity.
About workers’ demand for fixing minimum wage at Tk 5,000, Prof Muzaffar said it is urgent to protect the interests of the workers and farmers.
He said a quarter that has been raising their voice against garment workers’ demand, they are virtually working against the national interest.
Prof Anu Muhammad said nobody will tolerate that the garment workers’ wage will be below the poverty line and the government too will not expect that.
On various facilities being given to the garment sector by the government, he said the government is providing various subsidies to this sector, but the garment owners are saying that the sector is not viable.
Anu Muhammad suggested the government to find out the main reasons of unrest in the RMG sector and address the evolving situation.
They said although the government has raised minimum wage at Tk 3,000 from Tk 1668 for garment workers, it is impossible for a worker to meet the cost of livelihood.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) organized the dialogue titled ‘The rationality of garment workers demand’ at CPB auditorium in the city in the afternoon.
Chaired by CPB general secretary Muzahidul Islam Selim, the dialogue was addressed, among others, by economists Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, Prof Anu Muhammad, DU Prof MM Akash, Adv Swadhin Malik and Bina Shikdar.
Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said the garment workers, not owners, established the garment sector as an industry, although they get meager salary.
He said the garment owners will able to make profit by increasing the workers’ minimum wage at Tk 5,000, if they want to increase the productivity.
About workers’ demand for fixing minimum wage at Tk 5,000, Prof Muzaffar said it is urgent to protect the interests of the workers and farmers.
He said a quarter that has been raising their voice against garment workers’ demand, they are virtually working against the national interest.
Prof Anu Muhammad said nobody will tolerate that the garment workers’ wage will be below the poverty line and the government too will not expect that.
On various facilities being given to the garment sector by the government, he said the government is providing various subsidies to this sector, but the garment owners are saying that the sector is not viable.
Anu Muhammad suggested the government to find out the main reasons of unrest in the RMG sector and address the evolving situation.
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