RMG wage board gazette awaits workers’ nominees

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the government would issue a gazette notification forming a new wage board for the readymade garment (RMG) sector within two days of receiving workers’ nominations.

Speaking at a briefing on labour unrest and the wage board at the CIRDAP International Conference Centre in Dhaka on Tuesday, the minister said the government and employers had already submitted the names of their representatives.

However, the formation of the wage board remains pending as workers have yet to nominate their representatives.

He urged labour leaders to hold discussions and finalise their nominations within the next week.
“Once we receive the names of the workers’ representatives, the gazette will be issued within two days, provided there are no public holidays,” he said.

Labour and Employment Secretary Md Abdur Rahman Tarafder moderated the session, attended by representatives of employers and workers.

Addressing outstanding wages in the garment sector, the minister urged factory owners to clear unpaid salaries promptly.

He said the government would contact factory owners where wages remained unpaid to facilitate their settlement.

Emphasising cooperation among workers, employers and the government, Ariful Haque said labour disputes should, wherever possible, be resolved at the factory level with support from trade unions, employers’ associations and relevant government agencies. 

He urged workers to avoid street protests that disrupt traffic and called on government agencies to prevent outside groups from exploiting labour disputes to create unrest.

The minister stressed the importance of protecting workers’ rights while ensuring uninterrupted industrial operations.

He said the government was committed to workers’ welfare and would continue working with employers and labour representatives to resolve disputes through dialogue.

Expressing optimism about the outcome of the tripartite discussions, he urged all stakeholders to act responsibly to maintain industrial stability.

Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation President Nazma Akter said the government, employers and workers’ representatives were working together to settle outstanding wages.

She said efforts were underway to resolve disputes with assistance from the industrial police and local administration.

Nazma also said initiatives had been taken to complete the wage board formation process within this month.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Executive President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan said the government was committed to increasing garment workers’ wages.

He urged workers and employers to work together to resolve disputes without further protests.

“If employers and workers shared the same mindset, there would be no need for fresh protests,” he said.
Ehsan also called on workers to refrain from damaging factories during labour unrest.