The IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) has demanded a minimum monthly wage of $260 for garment workers, citing rising living costs, higher transport fares linked to fuel price hikes and increasing medical expenses.
IndustriALL Bangladesh Council has demanded a $260 monthly minimum wage for Bangladesh garment workers, citing higher living costs and market volatility.
IBC said essentials, transport and medical costs had strained workers, alongside a 100 to 142 per cent rise for government employees.
It plans grade-wise wage proposals once the full wage board is formed.
The demand was finalised at an emergency meeting of the IBC central executive committee on Saturday, chaired by IBC President Mir Abul Kalam Azad.
The meeting was attended by labour leaders, including General Secretary Salauddin Shapon and Vice Presidents Amirul Haque Amin, Chaina Rahman, Ruhul Amin, Babul Akhter and Rashedul Alam Raju, among others.
In a press release issued on Sunday, the council said soaring prices of essential goods, rising transport costs and medical expenses had made it increasingly difficult for garment workers to support their families on current wages.
It also cited a recent 100 per cent to 142 per cent salary increase for government employees, saying the move had triggered further market instability and intensified financial pressure on low-income people.
The IBC said it would soon announce wage structures for other grades and submit a detailed written proposal to the wage board chairman and worker representatives once the full wage board is officially formed, according to local media reports.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (CG)
