Home Minister warns against attempts to fuel RMG unrest

 
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said the government was committed to ensuring a fair minimum wage for garment workers, warning that attempts to exploit their grievances to create instability in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector would be dealt with firmly.

A wage board has already been formed and started work to determine the new minimum wage, he said, adding that workers' living costs and legitimate demands would receive priority.

“The government is sincerely working to improve the living standards of garment workers. Under these circumstances, there is no scope for creating fresh unrest,” Salahuddin told reporters after a meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

He said the government had held discussions with leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and labour organisations to address workers' concerns.

The new wage would be determined through negotiations between workers' and employers' representatives on the wage board, he added.

Regarding factory closures and workers' road demonstrations, the minister said the government would take steps to reopen the affected factories as soon as possible.

He, however, warned that attempts to provoke workers, attack industrial establishments or disrupt production for political gains would not be tolerated.

Some groups might be seeking to exploit workers' grievances for narrow political interests and create instability in the industrial sector, he said.

Salahuddin added that intelligence monitoring and law enforcement operations would be strengthened to prevent further unrest.

While assuring workers that their legitimate demands would receive due attention, he said legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to create disorder or undermine stability in the RMG sector.