Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has described 30,000 taka as a rational minimum monthly wage for garment workers and placed 15 demands before the government to resolve the ongoing labour unrest and ensure stability in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
At a press conference on Thursday, the party called for the new minimum wage, which would be decided by the new wage board formed by the government, to take effect from January 2027, urging the government to ensure effective representation of workers in the wage-setting process.
Jamaat said the proposed wage should reflect workers' actual living costs, prevailing market prices, family size and basic needs, as rising expenses for food, housing, healthcare, education, transportation and utilities have made it increasingly difficult for workers to maintain their livelihoods.
The party also demanded an impartial investigation into the death of garment worker Toufiq Sheikh, 21, who died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Uttara after sustaining critical injuries during clashes surrounding workers' protests in Gazipur.
It called for adequate compensation for his family, proper medical treatment for injured workers and justice for those responsible for the incident.
On the ongoing unrest, Jamaat urged the government to investigate whether the banned Awami League, Jubo League, Sramik League or other politically motivated groups were attempting to exploit workers' protests to incite violence or carry out sabotage.
However, it stressed that ordinary workers should not be held responsible without evidence and called for an end to harassment, repression and mass arrests under the pretext of controlling the unrest.
The party condemned vandalism, arson, looting, attacks on vehicles and other activities disrupting industrial production, saying workers' rights movements and attempts to destroy factories must be treated as separate issues.
According to the press release, production has been disrupted at more than 1,000 factories in industrial areas including Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Mirpur. Hundreds of factories have temporarily suspended operations, preventing thousands of workers from reporting to work.
Citing information from the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Jamaat also said more than 100 garment factories had permanently shut down in recent times because of gas and electricity shortages, resulting in the loss of jobs for around 62,000 workers.
The party warned that prolonged unrest and production disruptions could lead to order cancellations by international buyers, delayed deliveries and a decline in Bangladesh's competitiveness in global markets.
Among its 15 demands, Jamaat called for the immediate release of innocent workers and labour leaders arrested in connection with the unrest, withdrawal of baseless cases, an end to unlawful dismissals and payment of outstanding wages, allowances and overtime.
It also demanded adequate security in industrial areas, the reopening of closed factories, a review of blacklisted workers' cases and opportunities for them to return to work.
Other demands included introducing a rationing system to provide essential food items at affordable prices, expanding healthcare, housing and social security programmes, and ensuring safe working conditions for women workers.
Jamaat proposed immediate tripartite dialogue involving workers' representatives, factory owners and the government to resolve the crisis. It also called for regular wage reviews and initiatives to improve workers' welfare.
The party said ensuring workers' rights and protecting industries were not contradictory objectives, arguing that industrial stability could not be achieved by depriving workers of their rightful wages.
Those present at the press conference included Jamaat Naib-e-Ameer and former MP Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam; Assistant Secretary General and MP Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan; former MPs Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and Maulana Abdul Halim; Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair; and several other central and city-level leaders.