Demand of forming Wage Commission and declining economy

NEWS reports said labour leaders are demanding immediate formation of a Wage Commission for workers of state-owned mills and factories to bring some harmonization of their pay and allowances consistent with rising cost of living. The last Wage Commission known as National Wage and Productivity Commission was set up in 2010 that followed a rise in wage level of different categories of workers and their demand for review of the existing wages of around 73000 employees again after such interval no doubt deserves consideration. It is a matter of routine that the government constitute a Wage Commission every five years and a new Wage Commission is not only due by time period but also by the fact that the government has already almost doubled the pay and perks of government officers under the 8th Pay Commission. So when the leaders of Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad and Bangladesh Trade Union Centre are calling for upward review of financial benefits of workers and their demand can’t be ignored. Particularly they are right when they say the government officers posted at state-owned mills and factories are now drawing enhanced salary under the new Pay Scale and it is influencing the workers to demand for upward adjustment of their wages. But demand for higher wages also needs higher workers productivity.It is not easy to run a government. When the government allows higher wages to please a particular section, it has to keep in mind others will also demand similar pay increases.The government, if not irresponsible, cannot be so generous with other people’s money forgetting the ripple effect in other sectors.It cannot be hidden that investment is not coming and only the corruption side of the economy is growing. Wage hike situation has been created by the government and now it is for the government to solve it. What is important is that the government can only buttress bureaucrats and public sector workers but if the income level of common people does not increase which needs better distribution of national wealth, such buttressing of special interest groups will only increase income gap and social tension. In our view workers demand may be met but the government should also reduce corruption and misuse of public fund to stop stealing of public wealth by those who do not have to care what happens to the country.