Amid workers’ protest, which started on October 23, the readymade garment manufacturers have finally decided to revise their wage proposal for workers and submit it to the Minimum Wage Board at the next meeting, which is likely to be held next week.
The decision was taken at the fifth meeting of the Wage Board in Dhaka on Wednesday. Board Chairman Liaquat Ali Mollah has said that they expect to announce the new wage structure mid-November.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Ministry of Labour and Employment have already said that the new pay structure for the RMG workers will be effective from December.
Meanwhile, apparel makers urged the government to ensure security of their factories at any cost as they are facing severe losses due to the ongoing workers’ strike demanding a proper pay hike.
The decision to revise the wage proposal came after Tuesday’s massive violent protests of RMG workers that rocked the industrial areas in and around Dhaka city, leaving two dead and hundreds injured. During the protests, several factories came under arson attacks while many factories and vehicles were also vandalised.
To tackle the situation, owners decided to close factories in Gazipur, Ashulia, Savar, Mirpur and Konabari areas. BGMEA said this closer fell under Section 13/1 of the labour law, which means ‘no work no pay’.
However, after nearly 500 RMG factories were shut down, workers took to the street in the Gazipur, Konabari, Chandra, Ashulia, Savar and Mirpur areas on Wednesday and demonstrated.
After Wednesday’s board meeting, RMG owners' representative Md Siddiqur Rahman said they will revise the previously proposed wage of Tk 10,400 and raise the amount. He did not reveal any amount.
Workers’ representative Sirajul Islam Roni said that they are waiting for the revised proposal from the owner. “Hopefully, they will offer a better wage in line with the current market.”
“We are not asking for any amount that is impossible for the owners to pay. We have to consider the industry’s current capacity amid the global economic turmoil. We have said that the wages should be increased to an amount that will allow a worker to live well with their family,” he added.
Earlier, on October 22, RMG workers proposed Tk 20,393 as the minimum wage, while the owners proposed Tk 10,400 — both higher from the current minimum wage of Tk 8,000 that was set back in 2018 for entry-level workers.
‘Save our factories’
As the protest situation worsened, BGMEA held a general meeting at its Dhaka office on Wednesday, which nearly 200 factory owners attended and expressed their concern over the ongoing unrest.
The owners demanded that the government must ensure security of their factories as soon as possible at any cost amid the violent protests.
At the meeting, former BGMEA president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said, “It is very difficult for us to shut factories even for a day. But we have been forced to do this.
“If we cannot continue production, we will be forced to go for costly air shipment and offer discounts to buyers while many goods will remain unsold. How will we survive?”
Calling this situation a part of conspiracy to create instability just before the national election, Shafiul, also former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) said, “A vested quarter wants to benefit from the garment strike. Law enforcement agencies have the authority to do everything possible to ensure the safety lives and assets in this regard.”
Saying the government is responsible to protect the factories and workers, Shafiul added, “I urge the labour minister [State Minister of Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian] to bring the situation under control. Otherwise, resign.”
Echoing his concerns, BGMEA Senior Vice President SM Mannan Kochi said, “We believe our workers are not involved in criminal activities. It’s that vested quarter that provoked the workers and created this situation because they are against Bangladesh’s development and progress.”
Kochi, also general secretary of Awami League’s Dhaka City North unit, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also called him on Tuesday to talk about the overall situation and he briefed her.
AK Azad, former president of BGMEA and FBCCI, said they have provided CCTV camera footage to police and filed FIR against those involved in the vandalism of his factory.
“It’s disappointing that no one has been arrested yet. Criminals set fire at Fortis Group and ABM Fashion and killed a worker. CCTV camera footages of those incidents are also available,” he said.
“Based on those, I believed police would be able to arrest the attackers easily and file murder case against them. But there is no response yet from the law enforcers,” he lamented.
About ‘no work no pay’, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said, “Earlier, even when we closed factories under Section 13/1, we paid the workers following requests from labour leaders. But this time, there is no chance of any pay because they have damaged our factories.”
