Garment workers will be enjoying all benefits beyond the new wage structures as per the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 and Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015, according to an amendment
The latest amendment has been incorporated in a gazette notification published on November 29, four days after the announcement of the new wage structures.
"Workers of the sector will continue to get the benefits, rights, allowances other than the wage and allowances set in the new wage structure if it is provided in accordance with Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 and Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015", according to the amended notification.
In the November 25 announcement, it was said that if any worker gets allowance or benefits other than wage and allowances set by the wage board, he or she will continue to enjoy the benefits under the sections 2(10), 108 and 336 of Bangladesh Labour Act 2006.
Labour leaders, however, alleged that the changes have been made as a strategy to deprive the workers of additional benefits not secured by the law.
"It is an attempt to deprive the workers," Towhidur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Garment Industry Workers' Federation told the FE Saturday.
There are many factories in the country that provide production bonus and attendance bonus in addition to the regular wage and other benefits, he explained.
Now the factory authority might curtail the benefits as those are not offered in accordance with the law and rules, he added.
The trade union organisations will also not press for such benefits if factory owners cut the facilities, he said.
When asked, Md Siddiqur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said, "RMG is a big and important industry both for the country and the economy."
The government might have brought the change to bring the sector under proper rules and regulations, he noted.
In the corrected gazette, the labour ministry also clarified the wage structure of apprentice workers and employees.
The minimum gross payment of an apprentice worker will be Tk 5,975 that includes Tk 2,750 as basic pay, house rent (50 per cent of the basic pay), Tk 600 as medical allowance, TK 350 as transportation allowance and Tk 900 as food allowance.
An apprentice employee will get Tk 6,164 as monthly gross pay including Tk 2876 as basic pay, , 50 per cent of basic pay as house rent, Tk 600 as medical allowance, Tk 350 as travel allowance and Tk 900 as food allowance.
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