Garment wage board gazette to be issued within 2 days of receiving workers’ nominees: Labour minister
The gazette notification for forming a wage board for the garment sector will be issued within two days of receiving the workers’ nominees, provided there are no public holidays, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said on Tuesday.
He made the announcement at a press briefing on labour unrest and the wage board at the CIRDAP International Conference Centre.
The minister said the government and employers had already submitted the names of their representatives to the wage board, and the government was now waiting for the workers’ nominees. He urged labour leaders to hold discussions and nominate their representatives within the next week.
Addressing the issue of unpaid wages, Ariful urged employers to take the necessary steps to ensure payments. He said the government would contact factory owners where wages remained unpaid to help settle the dues promptly.
Emphasising the need for workers, employers and the government to work together to resolve labour unrest, he said disputes arising within factories should be addressed internally, with support from labour unions, employers’ associations and the government.
He urged workers not to take to the streets and disrupt traffic. At the same time, he called on relevant government agencies to prevent outsiders with no affiliation to workers or employers from creating issues to incite unrest.
The minister stressed that the country’s development must be pursued while protecting the interests of both workers and employers and ensuring uninterrupted industrial operations. He said the government was ready to work tirelessly for workers’ welfare.
He expressed hope that all stakeholders would act responsibly to resolve the labour unrest in line with the discussions and decisions reached at tripartite meetings.
Labour and Employment Secretary Md Abdur Rahman Tarafder moderated the session, which included speeches by representatives of employers and workers.