Wage board sits again to fix new pay for garment workers

The wage board is sitting for a second time to recommend the minimum wage rates for workers and employees of all categories working in the country’s garment sector. The meeting will be held at 11am on Monday (9 November) in the board’s meeting room at Segunbagicha in the capital.

According to sources concerned, two more members will be included in the wage board at Monday’s meeting. At the same time, the owners’ side and the workers’ side will submit separate written proposals on what the minimum monthly wage for garment workers should be.

The second meeting was announced on Sunday (8 November) by the industry branch of the Minimum Wage Board under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The meeting’s agenda includes the submission of separate written proposals on wage rates by the representatives of the workers’ side and the owners’ side of the garment industry, and discussion on formulating recommendations on the minimum wage rates for workers and employees of all categories employed in the garment sector.

Earlier, in the face of a movement by garment workers, the government formed a six-member Minimum Wage Board on 1 November to re-fix the wages of garment workers.

Later the same day, a gazette in this regard was published by the wage board branch of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Both the workers and the owners have their own demands regarding the new wage structure. Once the two sides submit their written proposals at Monday’s meeting, the board will have a concrete basis for discussion.

The monthly income of millions of garment workers in the country depends on the board’s recommendations. That is why workers, owners and all concerned parties are looking to the second meeting.

Everyone will be watching what decision the board takes after the meeting and what the next steps are in formulating the wage recommendations.