BB in support of wage hike for apparel workers

22 Jul '10

2 min read

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has raised a caution that, if wages of apparel sector workers are not increased then this would have a negative impact on exports, as the government's ability to strike the intended economic growth rate would also be affected.

The warning from the side of the Central Bank has come, as it released its monetary policy statement on July 19, 2010.

BB said that, there is an urgent need to raise the prevailing minimum wage rates as they are now far below than the minimum wages being paid to other rural labourers. The bank said that, this is equally important to do so for survival of the workers and that, it would also be an answer to the apprehensions of consumer lobbies present in the export markets of developed countries over fair dealings with the workers.

Making a mention of the GDP growth rate of 6.7 percent as set by the government, BB said that, the worker strife prevailing in the apparel sector needs to be sorted out on an immediate basis.

At present, where the minimum wage for the apparel sector workers prevails at a low of Tk 1,662 per month, the farm workers in rural areas draw around Tk 3,000 per month and that too just by working for around six to seven hours a day. Also their employers provide food to these agricultural workers.

Apparel sector workers are now out with a demand to raise their minimum wages to Tk 5,000 per month. Presently, a consultation is on between the government, factory owners, worker representatives and independent observers, who are mulling over increasing the wages.

Where the observers are of the opinion that, the minimum wage should be set somewhere above Tk 3,000, the factory owners are not ready to pay anything beyond Tk 2,500 per month.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India

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