Representatives of garment workers are expected to propose a minimum monthly wage of at least 30,000 taka for entry-level workers at the second meeting of the newly formed wage board scheduled for Monday.

Meanwhile, factory owners are holding discussions with their representatives to reach a common position on the proposed wage structure ahead of the crucial meeting, industry sources said.

Babul Akhter, the workers' representative on the wage board, told Daily Waadaa that the workers' side would submit its proposal at Monday's meeting after collecting recommendations from different trade union alliances.

"Tomorrow, we will present our wage proposal at the second meeting of the newly formed wage board. All trade union alliances are expected to submit their proposals to me by this evening," he said.

Asked about the proposed amount, Babul said the workers' side would not propose less than 30,000 taka.

"From my understanding, we will propose a minimum wage of at least 30,000 taka. Only around 5 to 8 percent of garment workers currently receive the minimum wage of 12,500 taka, while the remaining majority earn more than that. So, we will submit not just the minimum wage proposal but also proposals covering all four wage grades before the board," he said.

He added that the board could move towards finalising a figure if proposals from the employers' and neutral representatives were also submitted at Monday's meeting.

"If we receive proposals from the other two sides, the employers' and neutral representatives; we will certainly try to finalise a figure tomorrow. Otherwise, discussions will continue, and we will try to reach a decision within the next two to three days," he said.

Babul said different labour organisations had already placed varying wage demands, and the workers' representative would try to develop a common proposal based on an average or a figure within the range of those demands.

Salahuddin Shopon, President of the IndustriAll Bangladesh Council (IBC), told Waadaa that the organisation had received four wage proposals from four trade unions and would finalise one before submitting it to the workers' representative on the board.

"We have received four proposals from four trade unions. We will select one by this evening and submit it to our workers' representative, who is also a member of the wage board," he said.

Asked about the proposed figures, Shopon said the four trade unions had demanded 27,000 taka, 32,000 taka, 35,000 taka and 37,000 taka, respectively.

"We will select one of these proposals and place it before our representative," he added.

Taslima Akhter, President of Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity (BGWS), said trade union leaders would meet on Sunday evening to finalise their position.

"We have decided not to propose a minimum wage below 30,000 taka to our representatives. We have a meeting with trade union leaders this evening, and we will see what comes out of the discussion," she told Waadaa.

Meanwhile, garment manufacturers are also preparing their proposal on the revised wage structure ahead of Monday's meeting.

ABM Shamsuddin, the employers' representative on the wage board, told Waadaa that the process was underway.

"We are working on it. That's all from my side at this moment," he said.

Asked whether he had received any proposals from the manufacturers, Shamsuddin declined to comment directly, reiterating that they were still working on their position.

Dr Rashid Ahamed Hossaini, Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said the wage board should consider the industry's economic realities while determining the revised pay structure.

"Regardless of the rate at which the newly formed wage board increases wages after considering workers' demands, it should give equal importance to the industry's capacity, productivity, competitiveness and the sustainability of entrepreneurs," he said.

He added that BGMEA entrepreneurs had prepared 11 demands, taking into account the industry's capacity, productivity, competitiveness and the ability of entrepreneurs to remain viable.

Mijanur Rahman, Vice-President (Finance) of BGMEA, told Waadaa that the manufacturers would share relevant data with their representative after consulting industry experts and businesspeople.

"We will send data to our representative after discussing with industry experts and businesspeople. Based on the data we provide, our representative will negotiate with the other members of the board," he said.

He said several factors needed consideration, including business infrastructure, dollar fluctuations, product valuation, local costs and competition with other countries.