Apparel owners and workers have provided conflicting figures over implementation of new wage structure and yearly increment in the country’s apparel industry.
A row over the wage implementation between the two sides still continues since the new wage announcement in December last year.
RMG workers’ leaders claimed that one year elapsed since the announcement was made, but around 30% factories did not implement the wage structure.
They alleged that most garment factory owners are yet to take steps to offer even 5% yearly increment, which is a must as per the wage board instruction.
In sharp contrast, BGMEA claimed that 98% of its members have implemented the new wage structure and 5% yearly increment will be given as per the law.
On December 5 last year, the Minimum Wages Board declared the new wage structure for garment workers, fixing Tk5,300 as minimum wage with a yearly increment of 5% of their basic set as Tk3,000 for entry-level garment workers.
“We have surveyed over 100 RMG units in the capital and found that 40% of RMG owners started the process of paying increment while 60% are not paying any heed,” said Sirajul Islam Roni, president of Bangladesh Garment Workers Employees League.
In a survey over around 500 garment factories in Mirpur and Kafrul in the capital and Narayanganj, it was found that over 20% of RMG units did not implement the new wage structure, Rony added.
The garment workers claimed that wages for workers had been fixed at a lower grade in more than 40% factories before implementing the new wage structure.
Denying the allegation, BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune that about 98% factories implemented wages. He said the factories that did not implement wage structure are not the members of BGMEA.
“If there is any specific case, RMG workers can approach us and we will take action accordingly,” he added.
Following the Rana Plaza disaster, the issue of minimum wages for the workers came under spotlight while the international trade unions and rights groups pressed the authorities concerned to implement minimum wages.
The board on November 4 proposed Tk5,300 as minimum wage, of
which Tk3,200 were recommended as basic.
As a result around 77% of the gross salary was hiked. The wages amounted to Tk5,300 that had been effective from December, 2013.
Though the RMG workers declined to accept the new offer of wages, later they complied with it in prime minister’s interference.
The board on November 4 proposed Tk5,300 as minimum wage, of which Tk3,200 was recommended as basic. The worker.