Govt announces revised salaries, asks RMG workers to join duty

Monirul Alam of DOT : 
The government has raised wages for the Ready Made Garment (RMG) workers yesterday aiming to put an end to an impasse that triggered from ongoing agitation against discriminatory hike in salaries and owners’ warning to shut down industries.
Labour Secretary Afroza Khan made the announcement of revised wage structures at the Ministry of Labour and Employment following a joint meeting between the government, trade union leaders and BGMEA representatives in the afternoon yesterday.
According to revised wage structures, salaries for Grade-1 will be Tk. 18257 instead of Tk. 17510 while Tk. 15416 for Grade-2 against previous Tk. 14630, Tk. 9845 for Grade-3 against previous Tk. 9590, Tk. 9347 for Grade-4 against previous Tk. 9245, Tk. 8875 for Grade-5 against previous Tk. 8855 and Tk. 8420 for Grade-6 against previous Tk. 8405. The Grade-7 will enjoy minimum salary of Tk. 8,000. The minimum wage was Tk. 5300 as per 2013 wage board award.
In the last few days since January 6, workers of different RMG factories have staged demonstration in protest against discriminatory hike in salaries at Grades 2, 3, 4, and 5 and demanding a fair increase. In the surge of protestation, the government has formulated a tripartite committee heading Labour Secretary to look into the workers’ agitation and recommend ways to resolution.
While announcing the revised wage structures, Labour secretary Afroza Khan expressed hopes that all the RMG workers would stay calm and join work immediately. The Labour Secretary said that owners also agreed to reopen the factories shut down during workers’ agitation in last few days.
The Labour Secretary said Sunday’s revision in RMG sector wages followed the urgent instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after BGMEA issued warning to shut down industries amid continue agitation of the workers at different factories.
“All the parties (stakeholders) reached a satisfactory solution by rationale increase of salaries in the revision,” Labour Secretary said.
The tripartite meeting was attended by Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Labour and Employment Minister Munnujan Sufian, Abdus Salam Murshedy MP, FBCCI President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman and former Presidents Atiqul Islam, AK Azad, trade union leaders Montu Ghosh, Fazlul Hoq Montu, Amirul Haq Amin, Salauddin Shapan, Samsunnahar Bhuiyan, Sirajul Islam Roni, Babul Akter and Nazma.