First Meeting of Wage Board for Garment Workers Scheduled for Today

PNN News Desk | Dhaka

The first meeting of the wage board formed to determine a new minimum wage for readymade garment workers is scheduled to take place on Wednesday (November 4).

The meeting has been called to begin the board's activities amid continuing workers' demonstrations and disruptions to production caused by the closure of several factories.

The information was obtained from sources at the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), trade union leaders and government officials.

Relevant sources said the board's formal activities would begin through this inaugural meeting.

The workers' demand for higher wages and progress in government initiatives to resolve the ongoing labour unrest are also expected to be discussed.

On Tuesday (November 3), BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said the organisation had urged the relevant authorities to arrange a wage board meeting as quickly as possible.

He said they were hopeful that the meeting would take place on Wednesday.

Noting that efforts were underway to keep factories operational, he called on workers and others concerned to refrain from vandalism and demonstrations in the interests of both the industrial sector and the workers.

A labour union leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that the meeting was expected to take place.

According to him, he had learned that the relevant individuals had already been informed about the meeting over the telephone.

Earlier, on Sunday (November 1), Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury announced the formation of a six-member wage board at a press conference held at the Secretariat.

On the same day, the Ministry of Labour and Employment issued two separate official notifications regarding the formation of the board.