New Bangladesh RMG wage board to start review; 1st meeting on May 24

Fibre2Fashion: The newly formed minimum wage board for Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) industry will start reviewing wages amid opposition from many labour organisations over appointment of workers’ representative to the board. Its first meeting will be held on May 24 amid demands for setting the monthly minimum pay at Tk 23,000.
The minimum wage for RMG workers was reviewed last in 2018, setting Tk 8,000 as minimum monthly pay for an entry level worker.

The ministry of labour had appointed former Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Mohammad Sidiqur Rahman as the owners’ representative and Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League president Sirajul Islam Rony as the workers’ representative to the wage board.

However, several trade unions are opposed to Rony’s appointment, alleging that the government ignored the list of representatives suggested by various unions and appointed Rony due to political considerations, Bangladesh media reports said.