Neutral wage board to set fair, reasonable wages for garment workers: Mahdi Amin

Prime Minister's Adviser on Labour and Employment and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Mahdi Amin on Wednesday expressed confidence that the neutral wage board would set reasonable and fair wages for garment workers through consultations with all stakeholders.

He said the government had full confidence in the wage board and believed its representatives from both workers and employers would work impartially to ensure an acceptable, reasonable and fair wage structure for all.

The board has already held its first meeting shortly after its formation, while its second meeting has also been announced within a short period, he said.

The board has indicated that it would work intensively throughout November and December to announce the minimum wages for garment workers by the end of December, Mahdi Amin added.

"We believe this will protect the interests of workers, the garment industry and, above all, the national interests of Bangladesh," he said.

The adviser made the remarks while briefing reporters after an emergency tripartite meeting involving representatives of workers, employers and the government at the Ministry of Labour and Employment at the Secretariat on Wednesday night to review the overall labour situation in the country.

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Highlighting the contribution of garment workers to the country's global reputation, he said the 'Made in Bangladesh' brand had earned recognition worldwide through the hard work and sweat of workers.

"The government will always stand beside them with the utmost compassion and sincerity," he said.

The adviser expressed confidence that cooperation among workers, employers and the government would ensure the continued growth of the industry.

He also called for maintaining the cordial atmosphere witnessed at Wednesday's meeting across all industrial establishments.

"We expect our workers to return to work spontaneously, normally and peacefully from Thursday," he said, adding that dialogue and consultations with the wage board would continue.

Labour and Employment and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, parliamentary standing committee chairman on the Ministry of Labour and Employment Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Labour Secretary Abdur Rahman Tarafdar, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Mohammad Hatem and several labour leaders were present at the meeting.