Minimum Wage Board to Meet on November 9 to Determine New Wages for Garment Workers

The Minimum Wage Board is set to hold its second meeting on November 9 to formulate recommendations for the new minimum wage for workers and employees in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector. During the meeting, representatives from both the workers' and employers' sides will submit their respective proposals for wage rates.

This information was conveyed in a notice issued on Thursday (November 5) by the industrial wing of the Minimum Wage Board, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

According to the notice, the meeting will take place on Monday (November 9) at 11:00 AM in the Board’s conference room, located at Building No. 40, Segunbagicha, Dhaka. It will be chaired by the Board’s Chairman, District and Sessions Judge Syed Azad Subhani.

Held in accordance with Section 139 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, the meeting’s primary agenda includes receiving written proposals for minimum wage rates from representatives of both garment workers and employers. Additionally, discussions will be held regarding recommendations for establishing new minimum wages for all categories of workers and employees.

The following individuals have been requested to attend the meeting: Dr. Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, a professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Dhaka (serving as an independent member of the Board); Asif Ayub, Joint Secretary-General of the Bangladesh Employers' Federation (representing the employers); and Anwar Hossain, President of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal (representing the workers).

Furthermore, A B M Shamsuddin—an employers' representative and a director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)—has been specifically requested to present a wage rate proposal at the meeting.

The notice, signed by Raisa Afroz, Secretary of the Minimum Wage Board, instructs the relevant members to be present at the meeting at the scheduled time.

This meeting is considered a significant step in the process of determining new wages. However, the specific amount for the new minimum wage for workers has not yet been finalized.