Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has alleged that some garment factory owners linked to the Awami League, including former lawmakers and former state ministers, were involved in instigating unrest in the garment sector.
He also said strict legal action would be taken against those involved in activities that undermine workers’ interests, disrupt law and order, and seek to create instability under the guise of labour movements.
The minister made the remarks on Monday morning after a meeting with leaders of garment factory owners at the Secretariat. The meeting was organised as part of the government’s efforts to resolve the unrest in the readymade garment sector and restore normalcy in industrial areas.
An initiative had been taken to form a minimum wage board for workers every three years, in line with the demands of workers’ organisations and the government’s decision, Salahuddin said.
He added that after receiving the name of the workers’ representative on Saturday night, the labour ministry formed the wage board on Sunday morning.
The wage board’s first meeting will be held very soon, and the minimum wage for workers will be finalised and announced within the specified timeframe, he also said.
The meeting was held following Sunday’s violent demonstrations by garment workers in Dhaka, Gazipur, Savar and Tangail, where protesters demanded a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000.
During Sunday’s demonstrations, the areas witnessed clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel, road blockades, and incidents of vandalism targeting factories and vehicles.
Meanwhile, police arrested 19 leaders and activists of the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned, and its affiliated organisations, including the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League, on allegations of instigating the demonstrations.
The government has also formed a six-member minimum wage board to review the existing salary structure of garment workers, with representation from workers, employers, the government and an independent member.
At present, the minimum monthly wage for garment workers stands at Tk12,500. Workers are demanding Tk30,000, citing rising living costs, including house rent, food, transportation and healthcare expenses.
The government has called on workers to return to their workplaces and pursue their demands through dialogue and peaceful negotiation rather than resorting to violence, vandalism and road blockades.
The BGMEA has expressed concern that prolonged unrest could disrupt production, delay export shipments and affect Bangladesh’s commitments to international buyers.
