ILO seeks fairness in RMG minimum wage fixing process

Staff Reporter :
Following the unrest in Bangladesh readymade garment industries over the hike of minimum wage, the International Labour Organization (ILO) underscores the necessity of conducting the minimum wage determination process with transparency, fairness and a foundation in evidence.

“Demonstrations and instances of violence concerning wage levels in the sector give rise to concern and ILO calls for calm and restraint to avoid any further loss of life and damage to livelihoods,” ILO said on its website on Wednesday.

Highlighting the importance of sustainability of businesses in RMG sector, it said, “We strongly encourage all parties involved to engage in constructive dialogue and negotiations with the objective of reaching a consensus on a minimum wage that not only assures workers of a decent standard of living but also considers the sustainability of businesses within the RMG sector.”

“We acknowledge the work of the minimum wage board and encourage the parties to continue to discuss in good faith and to take into account the concerns of workers and employers alike as part of the confirmation process of the minimum wage,” it continued.

Underscoring the need for a national wage policy, ILO said, “It is imperative for Bangladesh to establish a national wage policy and an evidence-based system for wage determination.

Preliminary discussions in this regard are ongoing, and we welcome the establishment by the Government of a committee to explore this avenue.”

In April, the Minimum Wages Board for garment workers was formed by the government. Despite three meetings in the first six months, neither the employers nor the workers proposed a minimum wage.

In the board’s meeting on October 22, the workers’ representatives proposed a minimum wage of Tk 20,393, while the employers suggested approximately half or Tk 10,400.

Rejecting the employers’ proposed wage, garment workers initiated protests demanding a minimum wage ranging from Tk 23,000 to Tk 25,000 the next day.

The agitation began in Gazipur and later spread to Savar-Ashulia and Mirpur. During this movement, four garment workers in Gazipur lost their lives.

As the protest intensified, on November 1, the employers made a proposal for a new wage during the fifth meeting of the Minimum Wages Board.

Later, on November 7, the employers put forward a wage proposal of Tk 12,000. This proposal was ultimately sent to the Ministry of Labour for approval as the minimum wage threshold.

Despite this, the workers continued their movement, leading the employers to temporarily shut down factories for an unspecified period.

Since last Sunday, the factories have started reopening, and industrial production in the region has returned to normal. During the workers’ protest for wage increases, there were allegations of factory vandalism, arson, and looting, resulting in at least 43 cases filed, mainly in Gazipur and Ashulia.

About 20,000 individuals have been implicated in these cases, and 115 people have been arrested so far, including several labor leaders.

The labour unrest intensified when the political landscape is also in the cauldron of uncertainty due to various unsettled issues including a caretaker government for holding election.

Brushing aside all the demands of the oppositions, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party whose top brass leaders are currently behind bars, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the 12th parliamentary election on January 7.

Thus, unrest is prevailing both in the garment factories, political landscape and the ordinary people are experiencing severe food inflation as their fixed income is failing to cope with.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the State Department Antony J Blinken on Thursday said those who threaten, intimidate, attack union leaders, labour rights defenders and labour organisations would be held accountable.

The Secretary made the statement during the Rollout of the Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally on Thursday.

In his speech, he said, this is not simply a domestic issue; it is a matter of national security, a matter of foreign policy of the US.

He said, “We want to be there for people like Kalpona Atker, a Bangladeshi garment worker and activist, who says that she is alive today because the US embassy advocated on her behalf.

“When we use our voice, when we use our advocacy around the world, we can make a concrete difference in making sure that those who are trying to advance labour rights are protected and defended,” Blinken said.