Govt forms board to review rice mill workers' min. wages

The government has formed a new wage board to review the minimum wage of workers in rice mills, seven years after the last revision, officials said.

The labour ministry issued on March 06 a gazette notification appointing representatives of both mill owners and workers to the board in this connection.

AKM Khorshed Alam Khan, president of Bangladesh Auto Rice Mill Owners' Association, and Mahbub Bin Saif, adviser of Chenchua Baghmara Bazar Rice Mill workers Union in Mymensingh have been appointed as representatives from owners and workers respectively, according to the gazette.

The last minimum wage for the rice mills workers was set at Tk 5,520 in 2012.

According to the labour law, the minimum monthly wage for a sector has to be reviewed after every five years.

When asked, Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mill Owners Association general secretary Layek Ali alleged that the right representation of the millers was not ensured in the board as the majority of the mills were members of their association.

There were more than 16,000 mills, including 500 auto rice units, he said. The majority of the mills were members of their association, he added.

He also alleged that Mr Alam's mills had remained closed for last four-five years due to nonpayment of electricity bills.

When asked, Mr Alam said it was the government that nominated him for the board. He, however, could not give the exact number of members of his association.

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