Tea workers’ minimum wage to be reviewed in August

The government will review and reset the minimum wage for tea workers in August to ensure fair rights and improve their living standards, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury told Parliament on Thursday.

Responding to a private member’s resolution moved by BNP MP from Moulvibazar-4 Md Showkatul Islam, the minister said the government was giving the highest priority to the sustainable development of the tea industry while ensuring safe workplaces and better living standards for workers.

He said the minimum wage for tea workers was reviewed and revised periodically through the Wage Board, which was formed with representatives from both employers and workers under the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.

“The process will continue in the future as well,” he said.
Ariful said wage determination was carried out under Section 141 of the Labour Act, taking into account factors such as inflation, employers’ financial capacity, production costs and workers’ living standards.

He said improving the welfare of tea workers required more than only periodic wage increases.

“Improving their overall quality of life is equally important,” he said.

The minister said the government had been implementing several initiatives to improve housing facilities, ensure access to safe drinking water, strengthen healthcare services, expand educational opportunities for workers’ children, develop skills and increase social safety net coverage for tea workers.

He said the government remained committed to ensuring the legitimate rights of tea workers and helping them lead a dignified life.

Responding to the lawmaker’s resolution, Ariful said issues related to public interest and workers’ welfare would receive due importance, and the government would continue taking practical steps to address them.

He informed the House that the next review of tea workers’ minimum wage was scheduled for August.

The minister said wages in the tea sector were traditionally revised every three years with a 5 percent increase, adding that the Wage Board would hold its meeting next month to consider the latest revision.
He assured Parliament that the government would closely monitor the process to ensure tea workers received their rightful entitlements.

The minimum wage for tea workers is revised through the Wage Board under the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, with representatives from employers and workers participating in the process.

The government said wage decisions take into account economic conditions and the overall welfare of workers in the tea sector.