Govt moves to reconstitute RMG wage board

The government has moved to reconstitute the Minimum Wage Board to review and reset minimum wages for readymade garment (RMG) workers, with the Department of Labour seeking nominations from employers’ and workers’ organisations.

In a letter sent to the secretary general of the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation on Thursday (October 15), the Department of Labour requested three nominees for the employers’ side.

Citing Sections 138(2) and 138(4) of the amended Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, the letter said the government would appoint a neutral member, an employers’ representative and a workers’ representative to the board. Three candidates are being sought for each position.

The letter described workers’ wages as a highly sensitive issue and urged the employers’ side to submit its nominations urgently. It also referred to a letter issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on October 14.

The move comes amid growing demands from labour organisations for higher wages in response to inflation and rising living costs. Some trade unions have demanded a monthly minimum wage of Tk 30,000.

The last minimum wage for garment workers was set at Tk 12,500 in November 2023 and came into effect in December that year.

The minimum wage was Tk 1,662.50 in 2006 before rising to Tk 3,000 in 2010, Tk 5,300 in 2013, Tk 8,000 in 2018 and Tk 12,500 in 2023.

The IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) had demanded the reconstitution of the wage board by September 30, a new minimum wage by November 30 and implementation of the revised rate from December.

According to the IBC, amendments to the labour law reduced the wage-review cycle from five years to three years.

-AH