Continuing with their demand for Taka 16,000 minimum wage for the workers of the apparel sector in Bangladesh, the IndustriAll Bangladesh Council (IBC) has reportedly decided to form a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on August 4 demanding immediate announcement of Taka 16,000 as the minimum wage of the workers.
This was stated by the IBC leaders in press meet held recently in Dhaka, who reportedly rejected the proposed minimum wage as put forth by the stakeholders.
“We reject both the wage proposals placed by the workers and owners’ representatives to the board as the proposals are not consistent with the workers’ demand and expectations. If we count yearly 5 per cent increment on existing minimum wage Taka 5,300, which was set five years ago, the actual amount would be Taka 6,400 but factory owners proposed Taka 6,360 as minimum wage. It is nothing but farce with hundreds of thousands of workers,” reportedly maintained Secretary General of IBC, Salauddin Shapon.
Coming down heavily on appointment process of workers’ representative to the board, the IBC Secretary General reportedly said that in case the board tried to adopt unilateral decision bypassing the workers’ demand, IBC would announce agitation programme in Savar, Asulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chittagong, which are the major garment manufacturing hubs in the country.
It may be mentioned here that not only IBC but numerous other workers’ bodies have decried the proposed minimum wage and allegedly threatened protests against the same. Close on heels of the third wage board meeting, several workers’ unions, including Garment Workers’ Trade Union Centre and Ganasanghati Andolan; have decided to hold protest rallies.