Workers' representatives rejected Thursday the proposal of Tk 4,500 as minimum wage for garment workers placed by the apparel makers before the Wage Board meeting.
They did not also accept the proposal of the independent member's proposal of Tk 5,000.
Following the disagreements over the proposed wage structure, the Wage Board, however, decided to sit again on November 4 to discuss the issues.
"The apparel manufacturers placed their revised proposal of Tk 4500 including food allowance as minimum wage for the readymade garment (RMG) workers on Thursday," AK Roy, chairman of the Wage Board told reporters after the meeting.
After a long discussion, the independent member placed his proposal of Tk 5,000 excluding food allowance, he said adding: "The labour representatives did not agree with the offer. Rather they have sought three to four more days' time for detailed discussion with other labour organisations."
The meeting focused mostly on food allowance as labour representatives want it separately from the monthly wage while the owners' representative included it in the wage structure.
Sirajul Islam Rony, who is representing the workers' side, said, "The owners' proposal is unacceptable as it is insufficient to lead a decent life."
When his attention was drawn as to whether they would revise their existing demand for Tk 8,114 as minimum wage downward, Mr Rony said, "We will decide on the matter after discussing with all other relevant labour organisations."
He further said they will place their proposal in the next meeting taking the ability of the industry into consideration.
He strongly opposed the inclusion of food allowance in the wage structure but agreed to include transport allowance.
Independent member Professor at the International Business Department of the Dhaka University Dr Md Kamaluddin proposed Tk 5,000 as minimum wage for garment workers excluding food allowance.
The proposal includes a basic payment of Tk 3,200, house rent Tk 1,280, medical allowance Tk 320 and transport allowance of Tk 200 (newly incorporated), he explained.
"Usually, as an independent member, I never made any proposal for the 41 other sectors but this time I did so that both the groups could come to an agreement within the shortest possible time," he said adding he made the proposal considering both the workers' need and the industry's capability.
Earlier, Arshad Jamal Dipu, who is representing the owners' side, said "Unofficially, I have proposed Tk 4,500, the highest limit, as the minimum wage during the meeting."
"The industry does not have the capacity to bear the minimum wage higher than Tk 4,500 and legally the ability of the industry needs to be considered," he said. He attributed the industry's incapability to fall in prices of manufactured products, fluctuation in exchange rate, increase in production cost, high bank interest, low productivity, political uncertainty and lack of infrastructure.
"About 70 per cent factories are of small and medium categories and they contribute most to the export," he said adding they can't afford a minimum wage more than Tk 4,500.
The meeting mainly discussed food allowance, he said adding about 2.0 per cent factories pay food allowance which often creates problems and unrest among the workers.
"We want to make it clear that all have to pay this and any one can pay additional amount as per their ability," he noted.
The proposal also offers coherence in the grade-to-grade ratio aiming to enhance skills and encourage workers for promotion, he said.
