Increase RMG workers' wage to Tk 5,000
Academics and economists at a dialogue yesterday urged the government to reconsider and increase the newly announced wage structure for garment workers at Tk 5,000 by perceiving the expenditure of livelihood.
They said although the government has raised the minimum wage at Tk 3,000 from Tk 1,668 for garment workers, it is impossible for a worker to meet the cost of livelihood.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) organised the dialogue titled 'The rationality of garment workers demand' at CPB auditorium in the city.
Economist Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said the garment workers, not owners, established the garment sector as an industry, although they get meagre salary.
He said the garment owners would be able to both make profit by increasing the workers' minimum wage at Tk 5,000 and increase the productivity.
About workers' demand for fixing minimum wage at Tk 5,000, Prof Muzaffar said it is urgent to protect the interests of the workers and farmers.
He said the quarter that has been raising their voice against the demand of garment workers are virtually working against national interest.
Prof Anu Muhammad at the dialogue said nobody will tolerate the garment workers' wage to be below the poverty line and the government too will not expect that.
On various facilities being given to the garment sector by the government, he said the government is providing various subsidies to this sector but the garment owners are saying that the sector is not viable.
Anu Muhammad suggested the government to find out the main reasons of unrest in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector and address the evolving situation.
Chaired by CPB General Secretary Muzahidul Islam Selim, the dialogue was also addressed by Dhaka University Prof MM Akash, Swadhin Malik and Bina Shikdar.
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