শুক্রবার, ২৩ অক্টোবর ২০২৬, ১০:২০ অপরাহ্ন
The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) on Sunday suggested an adjustment in the monthly minimum wages for readymade garment (RMG) workers, proposing Tk 17,568, given the ongoing challenges posed by high inflation.
Currently, an entry-level RMG worker is receiving Tk 8,000 per month as per the 2018 wages structure, which is lowest among the country’s major competitors.
CPD unveiled the proposal during a dialogue titled “Readjusting Minimum Wages in Garments Sector: Observations and Recommendations” at a hotel in Dhaka.
During the discussion, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Executive President Mohammad Hatem said, “We need to assess the efficiency of our workers in comparison to workers in competing nations. Buyers are not practising ethical price, and brands are taking advantage. Many factories are being forced to cease operations, and some are opting to relocate outside the country due to financial burdens owed to banks. “
“The unethical purchasing behaviour of brands stands out as a significant contributing factor to these difficulties.”
He added, “Is it ethical and reasonable when a buyer pays $2 to a factory in Vietnam, but only compensates us $1.5-$1.6 for producing the same item?”
“We earned $47 billion in FY23, and the 4 million workers are main contributors. We want to pay more than the CPD proposal. But we will propose such figure, which is affordable to both parties,” RMG sector owners’ representative of Minimum Wage Board Siddiqur Rahman said.
“…We aim to understand the obligations of buyers and brands. Specifically, we seek transparency regarding the compensation provided to us for an item compared to the payments made to factories in Vietnam, China, and India for producing the same goods,” Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Director Faisal Samad said.
Samad also raised a question if they are receiving less than the competitors, who is responsible for this.
Minimum Wage Board Chairman Liaquat Ali Mollah, RMG sector workers’ representative in the board and worker leader Shirajul Islam Rony, the sector owners’ representative of the board Siddiqur Rahman, apex body leaders of the sector were present at the programme.
