Staff Reporter :
The Tannery Workers’ Union (TWU) has cautioned that failing to pay the government-mandated minimum wage of Tk 18,001 to tannery workers may result in a volatile consequence.
This statement was made during a rally of tannery workers held in Hemayetpur Leather Industrial City in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on Thursday.
Union leaders, including President Abul Kalam Azad and General Secretary Abdul Malek, emphasized that no one should receive a wage below the minimum set by the Ministry of Labor and Employment in the gazette notification dated November 21, 2024.
During the rally, Abul Kalam Azad pointed out that none of the previous four wage commissions had been implemented in the Hemayetpur Leather Industrial City.
He also noted that the current minimum wage had been recommended by the employers, and the delay in its implementation was extremely regrettable.
He pointed out that the interim government had urged an immediate implementation of the minimum wage policy.
He called on the employers to ensure the implementation of the five minimum wages under five grades without delay to avoid any unwanted situations as the country’s development is related with industrial stability.
Abdul Malek, General Secretary of the Union, stated that the workers in Hemayetpur Leather Industrial City often work 14-hour shifts, with many factories lacking employment contracts, personal protective equipment, and proper chemical handling systems.
He expressed concern that if this situation continued, it would not be possible to achieve an “Leather Working Group Certification”.
He warned that if the minimum wage was not implemented, any future actions by the workers would hold the employers entirely responsible for any potential negative consequences.
