Balanced approach must for RMG wage setting: CPD

CPD Executive Director Dr Nazneen Ahmed on Friday called for a balanced approach to setting minimum wages for apparel workers, taking into account the cost of living, workers’ livelihood needs and employers’ capacity.

“While determining minimum wages, all three factors must be taken into consideration,” she said.

She made the remarks as the chief guest at a shadow parliament organised by Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in the capital. The debate focused on ways to resolve instability in the apparel sector.

Dr Nazneen said wage increases alone would not protect workers’ interests. Factories must also ensure a healthy working environment, workers’ rights, maternity leave and other workplace facilities.

She called on employers, workers and the government to sit together and determine a wage structure through consultation. She also said the recent unrest might have been avoided had the wage board been formed earlier.

Warning that labour unrest could undermine international buyers’ confidence, she said factories failing to deliver orders on time due to closures risked damaging long-standing business relationships.
“Fair wages and a better working environment can never be ensured through violence,” she said.

If any quarter was instigating unrest to create instability, employers, workers, law enforcement agencies and the government should take coordinated steps to address the situation, she added.

Debate for Democracy Chairman Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron, in his presidential address, said the situation in the RMG sector had improved somewhat following protests, clashes, road blockades and vandalism over workers’ five-point demands, including wage increases. However, stability had yet to return.

He warned that continued unrest could damage Bangladesh’s image in international markets, erode foreign buyers’ confidence and affect exports.

Kiron stressed the need for a rational wage structure, safe working conditions and social protection to ensure stability in the sector. He also welcomed the government's plan to build six 100-bed hospitals in major industrial areas to provide healthcare for workers.

He said attempts to carry out sabotage by posing as workers for political gain should be dealt with firmly.�"UNB