Close on the heels of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) proposing grade-wise wages for the Bangladesh readymade garment sector, some labour and rights group in the country have reportedly opposed the CPD proposal.
General Secretary of the Bangladesh Garment Worker Trade Union Centre Jolly Talukder reportedly underlined that the CPD’s wage proposal was not consistent with the market prices and hence unacceptable.
Talukder further alleged that after every wage board, factory owners put huge pressure on workers and force them to meet higher production targets.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, has reportedly stated that the CPD wage proposal was contradictory with the findings.
“The CPD finds total family cost to be Taka 22,435 but proposes wage at Taka 10,028. CPD shows 2.1 earning members of family but it is the opposite of reality,” maintained Syed.
It may be mentioned here that uunderlining that the cost of living of the workers has increased by 17 per cent yearly during the 2013-18 period, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) – an institution for in-depth research and dialogue to promote inclusive policymaking in Bangladesh, and strengthen regional and global economic integration, has proposed a grade-wise wage structure for the apparel workers recently.
Presenting his report titled “Addressing the Livelihood Challenges of RMG Workers: Exploring Scope within the Structure of Minimum Wages and Beyond” at a dialogue programme on “Minimum Wages and Livelihood Conditions of RMG Workers” in capital Dhaka recently, CPD Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem reportedly proposed that the minimum wage for newly-introduced grade VI be fixed at Taka 11,004 and Taka 9228 for the workers without children, keeping in mind the falling profit margins as well as possible future business risks.
Moazzem reportedly maintained that the wage for grade V could be Taka 10,715, Taka 11,786 for grade IV, Taka 13,319 for grade III, and Taka 15,317 for grade II, while adding that all allowances would be proportionately increased with the promotion of the workers besides proposing child care and education allowance, service benefit with 3 per cent of the basic centrally deposited under ‘Provident Fund’, transport and communication allowance, etc.