Staff Reporter :
Leather industry workers have called off their strike after a productive meeting with employers and industry leaders on the implementation of the government-declared minimum wage structure across five pay grades.
The meeting was held on Thursday at the office of the Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters’ Association in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
Representatives from the Bangladesh Finished Leather Association, Bangladesh Tanners Association, the Tannery Workers Union, and other labour leaders were present in the meeting.
Following the discussion, Tannery Workers Union General Secretary Abdul Malek informed the media that all ongoing protests and work stoppages concerning the minimum wage demand have been suspended.
Md Sakhawat Ullah, Senior Vice President of the Bangladesh Tanners Association, said, “A committee has been formed with members from the Tanners Association, the Finished Leather Association, and the Workers Union.
This committee will examine all aspects of the grading system and submit its recommendations within 8 to 10 days. Based on these recommendations, all parties will reconvene to make a final decision. The meeting was very constructive and signals a positive step forward. We are hopeful of a timely resolution.”
Abdul Malek acknowledged that although significant progress was made, some discrepancies in the grading system remain, which led to the formation of the committee to ensure clarity and fairness.
“For instance, Grade 1 currently lists 13 job roles, but employers have raised concerns about the classification of some positions. Similarly, certain roles currently in Grade 2 may be more appropriate in Grade 3. The committee will assess these issues to ensure consistency,” he said.
“The committee has been given 7 to 10 days to prepare their report, after which a final decision will be taken based on consensus at the next meeting.”
The next meeting has been scheduled for 28 April.
Tannery workers have been demonstrating in Savar since the beginning of the year, demanding enforcement of the newly declared minimum wage structure, which outlines five separate pay grades.
On 19 April, workers staged a protest and rally in Savar. They had also warned that, if their demands remained unmet, they would cease working beyond regular hours starting at 5pm the following day as a form of protest.
