Employers are at loggerheads with readymade garment workers to revise the minimum wage rate, which now stands at Tk 5,300.
The employers want to fix the new rate at 6,400 while workers demand Tk 12,020 wage.
The government formed a committee in January to fix the minimum wage, which will be applicable from the first day of the next year.
The last wage revision was done in 2013 when the employers agreed to increase it by almost 100%. But, this time, they want a hike of about 20%.
Chairman of the committee retired district judge Syed Aminul Islam said, “We got the proposals from both sides. We need some research and will take a quick decision after scrutinising these.”
We will visit some factories and expected to take decisions within three months, he added.
The committee is supposed to expire in August but it will seek an extension for another three months to the government, he added.
Brushing aside any complexities BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman told Bangla Tribune, “It will be resolved. We have ample time of five months.”
We will find out a solution after negotiating with the parties, he said adding, “We put forward our proposal considering inflation and other factors in mind.”
Workers representative in the committee Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan said, “We don’t want any worker loses their jobs. We consider all the factors to put forward a win-win proposal.”
The wage committee will put forward its final recommendations to the government, which will finalise to issue a gazette notification.