Special Correspondent :
The 12-member committee formed to address apparel workers’ pay disparity has agreed, in principle, to make necessary review in their new wage structure after finding major holes there.
It came up with the decision after a hectic meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Saturday.
Outcomes of the meeting could not be known immediately as the concerned ministry refrain from media briefing.
But informed sources said, the meeting lasted for nearly five hours beginning from 12.30pm, with Labour and Employment Secretary Afroza Khan in the chair.
Though it was a weekly holiday, the committee members sat for the meeting to find out a quick solution over the issue amid continuous workers’ protest.
Hundreds of apparel workers took to the street for sixth consecutive day yesterday, demanding immediate review in their new wage structure, which has been effective from December 1.
They alleged that the monthly wage for the seventh grade (entry level) workers increased to Tk 8,000 from Tk 5,300 as per the latest gazette published by the government last year. But, the salary of the workers in other grades did not increase proportionately.
“We have in principle decided to review the new wage structure. Workers’ basic and gross salaries will be increased following the move, but their pay will not reduce any more,” M Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, FBCCI president and a member of the review body told The New Nation after the meeting.
He, however, declined to give further details on the issue saying the ministry of labour is expected to come out with the announcement in this regard today (Sunday).
An anonymous labour ministry sources said, that the committee members, at the meeting agreed upon, to review the wage structure for third, fourth and fifth grades after finding major disparity in these wage grades.
The announcement of the review is expected to come in Sunday’s meeting of the review committee.
