PM asks RMG owners to raise wages 'rationally'

FE Team | Published: September 02, 2013 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday said the present government has taken steps to further increase the wages of garment workers, and she had directed the factory owners to raise their salaries rationally, reports UNB. "The wages of garment factory workers must be increased rationally keeping pace with time, and I've already asked those concerned to raise wages to this end," she said. The Prime Minister was addressing a function at Ashulia School and College Ground in Savar, after unveiling the plaques of the foundation stone of the country's first hostel for female garment workers. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs organised the function. The 12-storey hostel will be built on one acre of land at Ashulia at a cost of Tk 269.8 million. Sheikh Hasina said loan would be provided at 1.0 per cent service charge to the interested factory owners to construct hostels and dormitories for their workers. The PM said she has already asked the garment factory owners to increase the salaries of the workers, and steps have been taken to increase their salaries through a wage board. "As long as I'm with you, there's no need for you to launch movement for increasing your salaries. We'll be there beside you," she told the workers. The Prime Minister also called upon the garment workers to remain vigilant so that no one could harm the garment factories. "You'll have to remain alert, so that no one could harm factories in which you work to maintain your living," she added. Sheikh Hasina, also the President of the ruling Awami League, said steps would be taken in the future to gradually construct hostels for the female workers across the country in RMG factory zones. The AL chief also sought votes for 'Boat', the party's election symbol, to serve the nation for another term, saying that whenever AL government assumes office, people get something, as it does not deprive them. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, State Minister for Labour and Employment Munnujan Sufian, Parliamentary Standing Committee chairman on Women and Children Affairs Fazilatunnesa Mujib Indira, and BGMEA president Atiqul Islam also spoke on the occasion. State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki chaired the programme, while Women and Children Affairs Ministry Secretary Tariqul Islam delivered the address of welcome. The PM said whenever there was any accident in the garment sector, her government tried to tackle the situation with all its capacity without making any delay. "I don't want such accidents to recur in future," she added. In this connection, she said her government has already provided Tk 160 million to the family members of the deceased and injured of the Rana Plaza building collapse. Although 80 per cent of the garment workers are female, Sheikh Hasina said no government, not even any Prime Minister, in the past had thought of providing accommodation to the female garment workers. But the present government for the first time has undertaken a project for construction of hostels for the female workers.