Bangladesh PM assures wage rise for garment workers

02 Sep '13

2 min read

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given an assurance that garment workers would get a rise in their wages as the Government has already decided to constitute a wage board for increasing the salaries and allowance of garment workers.

The Prime Minister was speaking after laying foundation of the country’s first hostel for female apparel workers at Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs would be constructing the dormitory for female apparel workers, which would provide residential and dining facilities at low cost, free furniture, healthcare services, recreation and sports facilities, and daycare services for children of garment workers.

Ms. Hasina urged garment factory owners to give adequate salaries to workers, as per the recommendation of the wage board, Bangladesh news agency BSS reported.

She informed that preparatory work for formation of a wage board to recommend a raise in salaries and allowances is moving at fast pace.

Normally, a wage board is formed once in every five years, but her Government has taken decision to set up the wage board earlier considering the interests of those who work in the clothing industry, she added.

The last time salaries of garment workers were raised in Bangladesh in 2010, when the minimum salary was raised by 82 percent from Taka 1,600 to Taka 3,000.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is earning valuable foreign exchange due to hard work of those who work in the apparel sector, entrepreneurship of garment factory owners, and supportive policies of the Government.

She added that the apparel sector contributes to development of economy and creates employment opportunities, and in the process empowers the womenfolk and reduces poverty. Hence, the Government has taken special steps to boost the country’s apparel sector and to provide better living facilities to garment workers.

She announced that the Government has identified land at Baipayl for building a garments colony to provide better housing facilities to thousands of garment workers.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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