Bangladesh Garment Workers want minimum payout 5000 tk

Bangladesh Garment Workers Unity Council yesterday announced a 90- day programme to press a series of demands, including a raise in minimum wage to Tk 5 ,000 from the existing Tk 1 , 662.50 per month. The two other major demands by the platform of garment workers are amendments to Bangladesh labour law and reversing the move to introduce industrial police. At a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity, Towhidur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Poshak Shilpa Sramik Federation, said workers can hardly purchase enough food with the salary they get now. "So, it is our demand to increase the minimum pay to Tk 5 ,000 a month." Meanwhile, Ikteder Ahmed, chairman of Minimum Wages Board, convenes its first meeting today to review minimum pay for garment workers. "I have already informed all the members of the board to attend the meeting," he told The Daily Star. The Minimum Wages Board for garment workers was formed in 2006. Nazma Akter, a member of the board, said the prices of basic commodities almost doubled from 2006. "So, it is a must to review the minimum wages of garment workers for their survival."