Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has refused to accept the workers' demand for a wage increase in the garment industry.
The decision was announced during an emergency general meeting held at the BGMEA office in Uttara on Monday (September 23). BGMEA cited rising electricity and gas costs, the industry’s financial instability, and increased production expenses as reasons for rejecting the wage hike.
Workers' unions have submitted 18 key demands to the government, the most pressing being the reformation of the Wage Board, wage restructuring, and an annual minimum increment of 10%.
Earlier in the day, the workers’ representatives raised their demands at a meeting with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, chaired by Secretary A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman. Among the 18 demands were calls to immediately implement the 2023 minimum wage in all factories, amend labor laws, ensure annual salary increments, and establish provident funds in all factories.
Key demands from the workers include:
1. Restructuring the Wage Board to revise the minimum wage for workers.
2. Immediate implementation of the 2023 government-declared minimum wage in all factories.
3. Amendments to labor laws to protect workers' rights.
4. Compensation for workers dismissed after five years of employment.
5. Immediate payment of all outstanding wages.
6. Equal increases in attendance bonuses, meal allowances, and night shift allowances across all factories.
7. Establishment of provident fund systems in all factories.
8. A mandatory annual wage increment of at least 10%.
9. Introduction of a rationing system for workers.
10. Government control over the biometric blacklisting of workers, currently managed by the BGMEA.
11. Withdrawal of all politically motivated and harassment-related cases against workers.
12. Legal measures to end monopolies in the jhoot (fabric scrap) business.
13. Fair hiring practices in all factories.
14. Compensation and healthcare for workers injured or killed in factory incidents, including the Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashion tragedies.
15. Creation of day-care centers in factories as mandated by labor laws.
16. Protection against unjust dismissals of workers.
17. Extension of maternity leave to 120 days for female workers.
With the BGMEA's refusal to meet the key demand of wage increments, the garment sector may see further unrest as labor unions push for better compensation amidst increasing economic pressures.
