Minimum wage for RMG workers a jugglery: TIB
Staff Reporter :
The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said the recently announced minimum wage for the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector is nothing but a jugglery with figures.
In a statement sent to the media on Tuesday TIB assessed, the minimum gross wages of garment workers were announced to increase by 52-56 percent, but the actual increase rate was 25 to 28.88 percent.
The Berlin-based civil society organization also sent a letter to the authority concern of Minimum Wage Board highlights crucial issues and their analysis in this regard and calls for a reconsideration minimum wage for RMG workers.
In the letter addressed to the Chairman of Minimum Wage Board, TIB showed that the wage of garment workers has not increased by 30 percent in real terms, taking into account the 5 percent annual increase, inflation, dollar exchange rate.
TIB analyzed that as per the minimum wage structure published on October 8, 2018, there are instructions to increase the basic wages at the rate of 5 percent every year. As such, the basic wages in the previous grade seven or the new proposed grade- 5 in 2023 should be minimum Tk 5,232.75.
The proposed new basic pay in this grade has been fixed at Tk 6,700. In other words, the basic wages in this grade are said to have increased by 63 percent but actually increased by 28.04 percent. In case of grade – 4 this growth rate is 26.52 percent.
Similarly, in respect of Grade- 3, Grade- 2 and Grade-1 the basic pay will be increased by 24.16percent, 23.97 percent and 24.71 percent respectively, TIB showed.
Meanwhile, on November 7 State Minister for Labour and Employment Munnujan Sufian announced that the new minimum wage for the readymade garments (RMG) workers after obtaining approval from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The announcement of a new legal minimum wage of Tk 12,500 by the RMG Minimum Wage Board has prompted serious concerns. Readymade garments workers are feeling the pinch of disappointment at the newly-fixed minimum wage which, according to them, did not meet their expectation, especially at a time of raging inflation.
Experts said the amount falls short of covering basic needs and a decent standard of living for the workers and contradicts the government’s commitment to decent work standards.
However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the readymade garment workers must accept the wage that has been fixed by the RMG sector wage board.
On the same date of announcement of new wage for RMG workers, The PM warned that if the workers don’t accept the newly declared pay and continue to take to the streets on instigations by vested quarters, it may cause their death.
