'Fix Tk 20,000 as minimum wage for garment workers'
FE REPORT | Saturday, 11 June 2022
Bangladesh Garment Sramik Sanghati (BGSS) on Friday urged the government to fix Tk 20,000 as minimum wage for the garment workers due to soaring prices of essential commodities.
The organisation also called on the government to form a 'minimum wage board' aimed at alleviating the plight of the garment workers.
The garment workers under the banner of BGSS made the call at a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club in the city.
They said the working class people in particular the garment workers are now going through a tough time following skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.
Even though the income of garment factory owners is increasing due to increased export orders, the wage for the garment workers is not hiked rationally and proportionately, they added.
BGSS President Taslima said the minimum wage for a garment worker is now Tk 8,000 which is meagre to lead a decent life.
She demanded the government fix at least Tk 20,000 as the minimum wage for garment workers.
She said a garment worker cannot maintain his/her family due to poor wage. So, their children are compelled to find work rather than going to schools, she added.
The other demands placed by BGSS include bringing down the prices of essential commodities within the purchasing capacity of garment workers, stopping arrest of and torture on garment workers, taking initiative to form minimum wage board with an aim to fix wage at Tk 20,000, taking initiative by the garment factory owners and the government for improving the living standard of garment workers and bringing the workers under the rationing system until the new minimum wage is fixed.