RMG leaders demand new wage effective from Jan

Garment worker representatives have demanded that the upcoming new minimum wage for the readymade garment (RMG) sector be made effective from the January 2027 pay cycle.

They also urged the Minimum Wage Board to conduct rapid, consecutive meetings without delay to finalize the wage structure, stating that worker representatives are ready to sit through overnight sessions if necessary to reach a swift agreement.

Babul Akhter, a labour representative on the Minimum Wage Board and prominent union leader, articulated these demands during a press conference held at the Srama Bhaban in the capital on Monday (November 2).

He pointed out that the last minimum wage structure was declared in December 2023, completing a three-year cycle by December 2026. Therefore, regardless of the finalized figure, workers must receive the adjusted amount with their January 2027 salaries.

Babul Akhter emphasized that the wage-fixing process must not suffer from administrative procrastination or long bi-weekly gaps under the pretext of absent representatives. He insisted that meetings should take place continuously with no more than a one- or two-day recess between sessions.

Critiquing the government's timeline, he noted that although the Minimum Wage Board should have been constituted earlier under labour law, its formation was significantly delayed. He further alleged that trade union leaders and general workers are being subjected to arbitrary arrests and harassment cases to suppress ongoing protests, demanding the immediate release of detained workers and the withdrawal of all false charges.

Addressing field-level garment workers, Babul Akhter urged them to return to work immediately and requested that they refrain from launching wildcat strikes or unannounced street demonstrations.

The press conference was chaired by Anwar Hossain, permanent labour representative on the Minimum Wage Board and senior leader of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, who called for an immediate convening of the board's formal sessions.

Anwar Hossain stated that worker representatives would issue a formal letter on Monday or Tuesday to officially expedite the scheduling of the Minimum Wage Board's inaugural meeting.

The press briefing was attended by prominent labour representatives on the Minimum Wage Board, including Nazma Akhter, Mst. Sultana Begum, Lovely Yasmin, Khaliquzzaman Lipu, and Sohel Rana, among other trade union leaders.

-SA