Action if RMG unrest created

The government yesterday warned of stern action against those found instigating garment workers into unrest centring on the general election and implementation of the new wage structure.

The decision came at the 38th meeting of the core crisis management committee of the garment sector held at the labour and employment ministry at the secretariat in Dhaka.

“Certain quarters may instigate the garment workers ahead of the polls and also during the implementation of the new wage structure,” said Md Mujibul Haque, state minister for labour and employment.

The new wage structure for the 4.4 million garment workers has come into effect from December and it will be reflected in the salaries they collect in January. The government has already published the gazette on wage hike in all seven grades.

“So, there is no chance for any misunderstanding surrounding the wage hike,” Haque said, while advising the garment factory owners to implement the new structure properly so that no untoward incident takes place.

At the meeting Haque asked Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Jahangir Alam to submit a report on the recently shuttered factory New Town Knitwear.

Leaders from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association were also present.