Garment federation demands action against those creating unrest over wage board
The Garments Federation Unity Council has alleged attempts to create instability centred on the restructuring of the wage board and wage increases in the ready-made garment industry. The organisation demanded that those involved be identified and legal action taken. The demand was made at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Monday morning.
At the press conference, the organisation's convener Mirza Al Shamim read out a written statement. That statement both welcomed the government's decision on the wage board and raised the allegation of attempts to create instability at the same time.
The written statement said a decision has been taken, by amending the labour law to improve workers' living standards, to form a wage board every three years instead of every five years. The Garments Federation Unity Council welcomed this government initiative in workers' interests. The statement also noted that the Labour Ministry has decided to form the wage board by October 2026.
The organisation alleged that a quarter is conspiring to create an unstable situation in the country centred on demands for wage board restructuring and wage increases. It claimed that several registered garment workers' federations supported by the banned Awami League are involved in this activity. This is the organisation's own allegation, and the material for this report contains no comment from the accused side.
According to the Unity Council, those organisations are trying to incite discontent in garment factories and create a situation of factory closures. It believes that if unrest is created at factory level while the wage discussion process is ongoing, both workers and owners could be harmed.
The written statement raised the incident of 12 October in Uttara, Dhaka, in which outsiders in the guise of workers blocked a road carrying sticks. It also alleged that workers were brought out of various factories and forced to join the blockade, ordinary people were intimidated, and members of law enforcement were attacked.
The Garments Federation Unity Council said violence of this kind before implementation of the decision to form the wage board could obstruct the process of determining fair wages for workers. It also claimed such a situation could have a negative impact on the country's economy.
The organisation condemned the violence and demanded that those involved in the incidents be identified and brought under the law. Its position is that creating pressure through violent means, without giving the formal wage board process a chance, is not in workers' interests.
The written statement also said about 4 million workers are employed in the country's garment industry. Maintaining the industry's stability and ensuring workers' rights is essential. Because of this huge employment, every wage board decision is also significant for the national economy.
The Unity Council has also raised several other demands at various times to improve workers' living standards. These include extending maternity leave to six months, ensuring education and medical services, building a safe working environment, establishing workers' colonies in industrial areas, and constructing hospitals. These demands present a broader picture of worker welfare beyond wages.
If the decision to form a wage board every three years is implemented, the gap between wage reviews for workers will shrink. However, participation by all sides and a peaceful environment in the process of forming the board, representation and finalising recommendations remain the main challenge now.
Attention now turns to how the decision to form the wage board by October is implemented and whether the authorities take any step regarding the allegations raised by the Unity Council. The outcome of this process will remain important for the stability of the garment industry and the living standards of 4 million workers.
