A significant number of readymade garment (RMG) factories still remain outside the purview of minimum wage structure implementation even nearly a year after the new pay hike came into force, labour leaders alleged.
Though there is no concrete statistics over the wage implementation, labour leaders claimed 20 per cent factories are yet to implement the new wage structure while it was implemented partially in nearly 40 per cent units.
They alleged that about 40 per cent garment factories, though they 'implemented' the wage structure only on papers, even downgraded wages of their workers before implementing the new minimum pay scale. Workers of those factories are deprived of the benefits due to grade discrimination.
On the other hand, the apparel apex body-Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)-claimed that about 98 per cent factories have implemented the new wages.
But, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment (DIFE) said some 20 per cent garment factories have failed to implement the wage hike.
A worker of a garment factory, located in Mirpur in the city, told the FE that he is still receiving Tk 4,200 as minimum wage instead of Tk 5,300.
"Some 20 per cent factories, especially of small category that mostly survive doing sub-contracting, are yet to implement the
new minimum wage structure and their wage payment ranges between Tk 3,500 to Tk 4,500 instead of Tk 4,100 to Tk 5,300," Sirajul Islam Rony, President of the Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League, claimed.
Forty per cent have problems with grades, he said explaining that workers did not get their payment accordingly. Rather they were downgraded.
"But rest of the 40 per cent units, especially located in the industrial zones like Ashulia, Savar and Gazipur are paying their workers according to the new wage structure," he noted.
When asked about the statistics, he said they had conducted a survey on about 500 garment factories located in Mirpur, Badda, Kafrul and Narayanganj.
"We have prepared a list of more than 100 factories, mostly doing sub-contracting, which are still yet to implement the recent minimum wage structure," he said.
Nazma Akter, President of the Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, also alleged that grades were not adjusted in line with the new wage structure and a large number of workers are deprived of the benefit of new pay hike due to grade discrimination.
A manufacturer, who has a unit comprising three lines, admitted that it is not possible for the factories, especially of small category, to follow the minimum wage structure because of scarcity of orders. The rates of 'CM' (cutting and making) they got are much lower compared to those of big ones.
Differing with the labour leaders, Md Shahidullah Azim, vice president of the BGMEA, claimed that the new wage structure has been implemented in nearly 98 per cent factories.
When contacted, Syed Ahmed, Inspector General of the DIFE, said they could not take any step unless the victims lodge any complaints.
"Our inspection found that some 20 per cent are yet to implement the new wage structure and we are taking action against those identified as non-compliant in terms of wage payment by the DIFE inspectors," he said.
The DIFE lodged cases against 42 garment factories that failed to implement the wage structure, he added.
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