BGMEA, BKMEA assure speedy wage revision, urge RMG workers to return to work

Leaders of the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector today (4 November) assured workers of a speedy revision of the minimum wage, saying the newly formed Wage Board has already begun its work with unprecedented urgency, while urging them to return to their workplaces and maintain industrial peace.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Mohammad Hatem made the remarks at a press conference held today at the conference room of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in the capital.

The newly constituted Minimum Wage Board held its maiden meeting today, setting a timeframe for completing the wage revision process.

Apparel leaders said the initiative was progressing faster than any previous minimum wage revision process and assured that factory owners would implement the revised wage structure within the deadline set by the board.

BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said the wage board held its first meeting just three days after its formation, describing it as the fastest initiative of its kind in the country’s history.

He said the board had already scheduled its second meeting for 9 November, only four days after the first meeting, demonstrating the government’s sincerity and urgency in addressing workers’ demands.

The apparel leaders also cautioned workers against taking the law into their own hands, saying continued industrial disruption could harm workers, the garment industry and the national economy.

They expressed concern that vested quarters might attempt to exploit the situation to create instability and undermine the ongoing efforts to resolve workers’ demands through institutional dialogue.

The BKMEA also placed several welfare-related proposals before the government to ensure that any wage increase translates into improved living standards for garment workers.

Its proposals included strict enforcement of the House Rent Control Act in industrial areas to prevent landlords from arbitrarily increasing rents following wage hikes.

The association also called for introducing rationing facilities or family cards for garment workers, establishing specialised hospitals in industrial zones to provide affordable healthcare and constructing dedicated dormitories in major industrial hubs.

The apparel leaders said the government, factory owners and responsible labour organisations were working together to protect workers’ interests and ensure a sustainable solution to the wage issue.

They urged workers to remain patient, trust the ongoing wage board process and return to their workplaces immediately to help maintain normal production and industrial harmony.

They said a peaceful working environment would allow the wage board to complete its deliberations smoothly and deliver an outcome beneficial to workers, employers and the country’s economy.