Tipu seeks ILO's role in getting fair price for RMG items

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday requested the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to play a role in the logical price hike for the readymade garment (RMG) items of Bangladesh.

He was exchanging views with ILO Country Director Tuomo Poutiainen at his secretariat office, reports BSS.

Mr Tipu said the owners had to spend a huge amount of money for modernisation and safety work in RMG factories after the Rana Plaza incident, and implementation of new wages also pushed the expenditure further. But "the buyers of RMG items do not increase the price in accordance with it", he added.

The minister said the country's RMG sector has reached this stage by overcoming adverse situations and the government is working sincerely to ensure the reasonable wages for the workers.

Expressing gratitude to the ILO, he said Bangladesh has got ILO's cooperation and would continue to work in future with ILO.

The ILO country director said Bangladesh's labour industry has attained visible development and expressed the hope that this progress would continue in future.