Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed urged the Bangladesh garment buyers Wednesday to increase their prices for the betterment of the workers and owners.
The minister made the appeal while a Canadian business delegation wanted to know whether Bangladesh has anything to say to its garments buyers.
The commerce minister disclosed this to newsmen emerging from a meeting with the Canadian business delegation at his office.
"We have increased salaries of RMG workers by 227 per cent during the last five years. But the buyers did not increase the prices of our products," the minister told the delegation.
Mr Tofail Ahmed also requested the buyers to increase prices of RMG products and continue the support being provided by them to the manufactures to strengthen good relation between the factory owners and the workers.
"We have decided to form the Alternative Dispute Resolution Council to solve the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector's problems which is now at the final stage. The Council will be formed within next two weeks. The stakeholders will be included in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Council," the minister added.
"We discussed bilateral issues in the meeting. They are eager to see what we have achieved so far for RMG workers' safety and which is very much important for them. We also discussed fire and building safety issues," he said.
Investors of the garment sector are now careful about safety of their factories. They have taken initiatives to improve working environment, especially fire safety and proper construction of buildings. The government has already withdrawn import tax on safety equipment which is used in garment industries, commerce minister said.
"Government, workers and owners have to work jointly to move the garment sector ahead," Tofail told the media.
The minister expressed the hope that the existing relation between Bangladesh and Canada will be strengthened further.
The delegation was led by Mr. Matthew Kellway.
Among others, Mahbub Ahmed, senior secretary, ministry of commerce, was present at the meeting.
