Amidst protests by garment workers demanding wage increases and unrest in various factories, the government has become active in managing the situation. As part of this effort, Arifur Haque Chowdhury, the Minister of Labor and Employment, has canceled his visit to the United Arab Emirates. Prime Minister Tareque Rahman is set to hold a meeting with several ministers and advisors, including those from the Ministries of Finance, Home Affairs, and Labor, to determine the course of action to address the labor unrest.
The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday (November 1) evening. A source from the Cabinet Division stated that the Prime Minister has summoned six to seven ministers and advisors to discuss the ongoing situation. In addition to the ministers from the Ministries of Finance, Home Affairs, and Labor, ministers from several other ministries and Advisor Mahdi Amin may also be present. The meeting is likely to be held after Maghrib prayers.
Sources from the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Labor stated that Arifur Haque Chowdhury, the Minister of Labor and Employment, met with the Prime Minister around 1 PM on Sunday. Earlier, around 11:30 AM, the government formed a new wage board to review the wages of garment workers.
Related sources indicated that the Prime Minister had given necessary instructions two days prior to address the workers’ discontent. However, the formation of the wage board was delayed due to a delay in receiving the name of the nominee from the workers’ representatives.
Announcing the formation of the wage board at the Secretariat on Sunday, the Labor Minister told reporters that the board meetings would commence as soon as possible, and the issue of wage determination would be brought to a conclusion.
He stated that one of the workers’ main demands was the formation of a wage board, which the government has fulfilled. He expressed hope that workers would now leave the streets, return to factories, and resume work.
Regarding the labor movement and factory closures, the Minister said that after discussions with the government, labor leaders had assured the formation of a wage board on Sunday. Accordingly, workers were urged to remain in their factories. However, he complained that some factories declared holidays, citing the non-announcement of the board’s formation.
The Labor Minister also commented that several political organizations might be behind the situation with planned activities. According to him, these actions are being carried out with the aim of creating an unstable environment.
In response to a journalist’s question about whether labor unrest was being incited ahead of December, the Minister said that such activities are evident. He claimed that the organizational secretary of a banned student organization was seen participating in the movement, posing as a worker, demanding a minimum wage of BDT 30,000. He added that photos related to this have also been published on social media.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the new wage board has been instructed to initiate the process of determining the minimum wage for garment workers in consultation with employer and worker representatives, as well as independent members. However, the date for the board’s first meeting has not yet been set, nor has a potential timeframe for announcing the new wage structure been provided.
Attempts to contact Sheikh Ashfaqur Rahman, the board’s chairman, via his mobile phone multiple times for comment on the matter were unsuccessful as he did not answer. He later responded to a text message, requesting to be called later.
