Set Tk 25,000 as minimum wage, demand RMG workers

Amid rising living costs, readymade garment (RMG) workers yesterday demanded Tk 25,000 as their minimum wage and payment of their salaries and dues before upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. 

They made the demand from a rally held in front of Jatiya Press Club.

Taslima Akther, president of Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity, who chaired the rally, said, "Minimum wage was fixed at Tk 8,000 in 2018 disregarding the then living cost... The workers are going through a silent famine due to the rising cost of essentials, which exceeded all previous records. The wage structures must be revised..."

Mosrefa Mishu, president of Garment Sramik Oikya Federation, said, "Workers lead a miserable life while the country's garment sector tops the export list in the world. The initiative to raise the wage will benefit all in the sector."

They also urged the government to repel the Essential Service Act which prevent workers from holding any work stoppage.

Sadekur Rahman Shamim, general secretary of Garment Trade Union Kendra; FM Abu Sayed, general secretary of Bangladesh Textile Garments Sramik Federation; and Prokash Datta, general secretary of OSK Garment and Textile Sramik Federation, spoke at the rally, among others.