DHAKA, Jan 13, 2019 (BSS) – Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters
Association (BGMEA) today asked the workers for joining workplace by tomorrow
otherwise it would shut all factories down for indefinite period.
“No work, No Pay” said the BGMEA President M Siddiqur Rahman, cautioning
that “If you (workers) don’t take part in production returning from the
street from tomorrow, we will shut all factories down under Article 13/1 of
the Labour Act”.
Siddiqur Rahman at an emergency press conference revealed the decision of
BGMEA at BGMEA office over the ongoing labour unrest.
Mentioning that a tripartite committee formed by the government is working
to address the problem, he said, “No need for agitation and vandalism as the
committee would revise the wage structure if there is any disparity.”
The BGMEA President told the RMG workers that vested quarters utilizing
the innocence of workers are trying to unstable the country’s apparel sector
which is not acceptable at all.
“You (workers) would be affected more and become jobless, as no other such
sector is yet to develop to accommodate the huge number of workers in apparel
sector,” he added.
In September last year, the government raised the minimum monthly wage for
RMG workers by around 51 percent to Taka 8,000 from Taka 5,300. The new wage
took effect in December.
The workers drew their pay in January and started agitation alleging that
they found disparity in the salary structures.