RMG workers’ demand for salary hike logical: Tipu

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Friday said the demand of ready-made garments (RMG) workers for a salary hike is logical in view of the rising commodity prices amid the current global economic situation.

“Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the prices of daily essentials have increased in the world market and also in Bangladesh. The workers are suffering; their demand for wage hike is justified,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the 16th bi-annual conference of the National Garment Workers Federation-2022 at the media complex auditorium of the National Press Club in Dhaka, said a press release.

Emphasising the necessity to form a wage commission and conducting a study on the overall aspects of workers’ living costs, product prices and production costs, the minister said that the value of the sweat of workers is not less than the value of blood and the garment sector has reached its present position today due to the sincere efforts of the workers and owners.

“The interests of both workers and owners need to be ensured. For this, it is necessary to ensure the fair wages of the workers as well as the appropriate prices of the products,” he added.

However, Tipu Munshi said, salary negotiation should be done after assessing the income of owners and the current salary structure.

“Time has come to increase the salary of garment workers through wage board negotiations,” he added.

The commerce minister said that the labour organisations and leaders should be educated and responsible.