“Not getting new minimum wage”, allege RMG workers

Despite the recent hike in wages, many garment workers are yet to receive the salary as per the new minimum wage.

This was alleged by the garment workers at a recent exchange of views meeting at the National Press Club in Dhaka organized by the Workers and Industries Protection Movement. 

“Although the Government announced Taka 8,000 as minimum wage for the workers of seventh grade, the wages of helpers in our factory are still less than the amount. Helpers in our factory are yet to receive Taka 8,000 as their minimum wage for the month of December. Wages of operators in my factories increased by only Taka 250-300 and none got Taka 8,000 as minimum wage” – Rina Akter, Operator, Yolk Garments

She herself reportedly received only Taka 7,000 including overtime for the month of December.

Participating at the event, Member Secretary of Workers and Industries Protection Movement Harunar Rashid Bhuyan reportedly observed it was not acceptable that factory owners would get tax benefits from the Government repeatedly while the demand for fair wages from workers would be termed as conspiracy while Research Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue Khondaker Golam Moazzem said that labour unrest has taken place in the RMG sector due to lack of information and factory authorities were responsible to inform workers about the new wage structure.

“Workers should not be penalized for the irresponsibility of the factory authorities and all the cases filed against workers should be withdrawn,” reportedly demanded Moazzem.

Many workers also reportedly complained that many of them were threatened with termination for demanding lawful wages.