The New Nation - Internet Edition

Syful Islam

The pay hike of workers of readymade garment factories has become uncertain as both the government and the industry owners are in row over who will declare the salary increase and take the responsibility of implementation, informed sources said.

Last week the government asked the garment industry owners to settle the pay hike issue within 4/5 days through discussion with the labour leaders.

Meantime the BGMEA and the BKMEA has sent a verbal proposal to the Ministry Of Commerce but the wage hike is yet to be declared.

Besides, the industry owners are thinking to resolve the wage hike issue on case-to-case basis avoiding any formal announcement.

Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association yesterday told The New Nation that there is no development over the pay hike issue.

"We have sent a proposal to the government but the administration is taking time to declare it. Both the Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman and Labour Adviser Anwarul Iqbal asked me to announce the pay hike which is not my job," he said.

"It is government's duty to announce and implement pay hike. If it fails to do that the thing may be settled on case to case basis," Parvez added.

Parvez observed that BKMEA president Fazlul Huq's announcement through a press conference of 20 per cent pay hike was not possible in these days when the industry facing tough time due to various reasons.

Fazlul Huq said they were waiting for government decision over the issue.

"The government has to declare the pay hike. It wouldn't be implemented if we (the associations) declare it," he said.

Huq said they did not send the proposal of 20 per cent pay hike except for a a lump sump amount. He would not disclose the figure what they proposed for hike.

Earlier on September 17 Commerce Secretary Firoj Ahmed told newsmen that they had asked the BGMEA and the BKMEA to sit together with labour leaders to sort out the problems.

"This is absolutely an issue of employers and employees--government should not be party to it," he said after a meeting with the leaders of the two owner-exporters' associations on garment sector's compliance issue.

The country's garment workers have been demanding a 20-per cent wage hike since the government had announced a dearness allowance (DA) for the public-sector employees.

In many places, the garment workers staged agitation in support of their demand and also vented their resentment through unruly way, like damaging factories and transport near hand.

In the last one-year prices of almost all commodities have gone up beyond the reach of the common people. Low paid people, especially the garment industry workers, are struggling for their survival in the ever-increasing price hike of essentials. The repeated price hike during the month of Ramzan has mounted their agony.

The government fixed minimum wages at Tk 1662 for garment workers in October 12, 2006 following the massive labour unrest in the RMG industry. But the minimum wages become meager due to the massive price hike of commodities.