Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- A government-appointed wage board has recommended BDT 5,300 as minimum monthly wage for readymade garment (RMG) workers, up from existing level of BDT 3,000 amid disagreement from the apparel manufacturers.
The proposal for a 76.66% wage hike from the current level of the same came at the ninth meeting of the wage board in Dhaka on Monday.
Under the proposal, BDT 3,200 has been fixed as basic wage, BDT 1280 as house rent, BDT 320 and BDT 200 as medical and transport allowances and BDT 300 for food subsidy.
“We’ve decided to fix the minimum wage in our draft proposal through voting after failing to reach a consensus over the issue,” AK Roy, chairman of the board, told reporters after the meeting.
He also said four members including an independent one voted for BDT 5,300 per month while the two owners’ representatives refrained from voting.
In the last meeting, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) representative agreed at BDT 4500 including food subsidy as the minimum monthly wage for the workers.
“We’ve re-fixed our proposal considering the overall situation of the country’s apparel sector.” Sirajul Islam Rony, who is representing the workers’ side, said while replying to a query.
He also expects that the BGMEA will take necessary measures to implement the new wage structure from November 1 in line with the earlier decision.
Earlier on August 18, Mr. Rony placed a proposal before the third meeting of the wage board demanding the minimum monthly wage at BDT 8,114 ($104.36).
A six-member wage board was initiated in June last to look at lifting the existing BDT 3,000 entry-level minimum wage for a worker in Bangladesh, which was fixed in 2010.
The minimum wage and other issues, including poor workplace safety apparel sector, have drawn criticism globally after the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building in April with the loss of more than 1,100 lives.
BBN/SSR/AD-05Nov13-11:20 am (BST)