A new wage board will be formed on Sunday for garment workers, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said, adding that workers have no reason to continue their protests under the circumstances.
He said this at a press briefing on Saturday after a meeting with representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at the Labour Building in Bijoynagar, Dhaka.
The minister said the decision to form the wage board was taken following a five-hour discussion with labour leaders on Friday.
Leaders of BGMEA and BKMEA had also agreed to the workers’ demand for a wage board, and workers’ representatives had been included on the board. Therefore, there should be no further disagreement over the matter, he added.
He said the payment of workers’ outstanding wages was also discussed with BGMEA and BKMEA leaders. They would consult factory owners and take steps to clear the dues as soon as possible.
The minister said initiatives had been taken to form the new wage board and pay the dues. Under these circumstances, there was no need for vandalism or factory closures, as such actions could damage the garment industry.
He alleged that while workers at various factories were continuing their duties, some outsiders were coming in and trying to incite them. He urged the media to use video footage to show who the actual workers were and who was taking part in the protests.
Minister Ariful said discussions had also been held on paying workers’ wages by the 7th of the month. However, factory closures would disrupt production and product deliveries.
He said factory owners would not receive payments if they failed to deliver products to buyers, which could, in turn, create difficulties in paying workers’ wages.
The minister urged workers to return to their jobs, saying the government and factory owners had taken initiatives to address their demands. He called on owners, workers and all concerned parties to act responsibly to maintain stability in the garment industry.
