Govt to fix minimum wages for allworkers: PM

FE Team | Published: March 06, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

KHALISHPUR (Khulna), Mar 5 (UNB): The government will fix the minimum wages for the workers of 17 sectors in the country, apart from that of ready-made garments (RMG). This was disclosed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while addressing a rally at Pravati School ground here today. Local Awami League organised the rally, which was presided over by Khulna City Corporation Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleq. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, State Minister for Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian and AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif also spoke at the rally. The Prime Minister said the present government has formed a national committee to fix the minimum wages for 17 sectors apart from that of the RMG. Seeking some time to announce the wages, she said: "It is not possible to do all things at a time. Please give me some time. I will enhance the wages of workers of all sectors." In this connection, Hasina mentioned that at her personal initiative the garment factory owners had earlier agreed to give Tk 3,000 as the minimum wages for their workers. She said that from January this year, the workers have been getting dearness allowances while the government has made the Labour Law time-befitting. The retirement age for the workers has been increased from 57 to 60 years. "We will also arrange training to the workers for enhancing their skill and capability." The Prime Minister strongly criticised the previous BNP-Jamaat government for "turning the industrial city of Khulna into a death-valley by shutting down all mills and factories." Referring to restoration of operation of Khalishpur Jute Mills (formerly Peoples Jute Mills), she said: "It was our election pledge to inject life to the industrial belt of Khulna." She said initially, the government would resume the operation of seven jute mills of the country including Qaumi Jute Mills of Sirajganj. "The other shut-down mills and factories will be re-opened gradually." Hasina said that the outstanding wages of all shut-down mills and factories worth Tk 10 billion (1,000 crore) had been paid and bank loans worth Tk 5.0 billion, waived. "But such waiving of bank loans will not be done in a regular fashion," she said adding that all will have to work unitedly to make their respective organisations profitable. She also said if any mill or factory is now shut down, it will not be re-opened. The Prime Minister criticised the previous BNP-Jamaat government for destroying the country's jute sector by shutting down all the jute mills.