RMG workers demo at Mohakhali
Assistant deputy commissioner of Gulshan zone police Nurul Alam told bdnews24.com that demonstrations from Tejgaon industrial area to Mohakhali began around 8:30am. "They are holding small processions."
The workers have vandalised several cars, he said, adding that "the police have not taken any action yet, but are rather trying to make them understand."
Additional police and RAB members have been deployed in the area to thwart any untoward situation.
Tejgaon industrial area police chief Omar Fark told bdnews24.com: "We are on alert. The workers have already set fire a car on Gulshan Link Road."
Police said there are some 400 garment factories in the area, of which most workers have taken to the streets.
The government on Thursday spelled out the new minimum wage for the readymade garment workers at Tk 3,000 and Tk 2,500 for apprentices. The new pay package will take effect from Nov 1 after completion of legal procedures.
Labour minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain while announcing the structure called on the workers to accept the new pay scale and said that it has been unanimously set. In case of urgent need, a new wage structure will be announced again after further review.
The chiefs of business bodies FBCCI, BGMEA and BKMEA, present at the briefing, said they will implement the structure within the three-month time frame set by the government.
Following the declaration, three workers' organisations Garments Sramik Oikya Parisad, Jatiya Sramik Jote and Garments Sramik Jote rejected it and asked to reconsider it.
Local government minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Thursday urged parliament members representing Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur constituencies to be ready to face any disorder after the minimum wage limit was declared.
He alleged that a quarter was trying to cause unwanted incidents using the issue of the wage board. "Local parliament members will have to be wary so that no disorder is created. They will have to build public support for this wage board."
In the new wage structure, seven general grades and one apprentice grade have been set for the garment workers. In the latest sixth grade, minimum wage of Tk 1662.50 for workers has been increased to Tk 3000, a rise of nearly 80.45 percent.
A total of Tk 1200 for apprentice workers has been raised to Tk 2500, which is 108 percent increase.
The government had set Tk 1662.50 as minimum wage for readymade garment workers in 2006.
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