'Fix Tk 5,000 as minimum wage'

29 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra and Textiles Garments Workers Unions Federation yesterday called upon the government to set a minimum wage of Tk 5,000 by reorganising the wage board. Speaking at a meeting at Muktangon in the city, leaders of the Textiles Garments Workers Unions Federation said although salaries of ministers and lawmakers have increased, workers' wages have remained the same, says a press release. They urged the government to fix Tk 5,000 as the minimum wage and demanded formation of factory trade unions in tune with the ILO Convention 98 and 87, implementation of the labour law, safe working environment as well as rationing system for the workers. Haidar Akbar Khan Rono, presidium member of Communist Party of Bangladesh, was present as the chief guest at the meeting. In a written statement, Garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra Adviser Advocate Montu Ghosh, President Idris Ali and General Secretary KM Ruhul Amin said many workers and their families are suffering from malnutrition and even starving to death. They said setting a minimum wage was one of the government's election promises, and demanded a minimum wage of Tk 5,000 to be fixed by May 1 instead of waiting for another 3 months, the statement added.