Absentee apparel workers salary increased to 65%

Apparel workers, who failed to join factories last month due to the countrywide shutdown, will get 65% of their wages instead of 60% fixed earlier for the month of April. 

The additional 5% will be disbursed next month with the wages of May as the owners have already placed salary documents to banks for fund under a stimulus package.

Last week, a Tripartite Consultative Council meeting decided to pay 60% wage to the absentee workers.

The meeting, however, decided to pay full salaries to workers who joined and worked last month.

The decision came at a meeting presided over by State Minister for Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian with the trade union leaders and garment owners at Sram Bhaban in the capital on Monday.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Rubana Huq, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) president AKM Salim Osman, first vice president Mohammad Hatem and trade union leaders were present in the meeting.

“Trade union leader demanded to increase the percentage of wages for those workers who were unable to join office and on behalf of the owners we honored it and increased salaries to 65% for the last month,” Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) president AKM Salim Osman told Dhaka Tribune.

Trade union leaders, however, are not happy with the 5% rise.

“We have demanded 80% salaries for the workers who could not join factories due to the lockdown but the factory owners did not agree,” Babul Akter, president of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation said.

From April 26, apparel makers reopened factories in phases but a good number of workers are still unable to join their workplaces as they are staying their village homes outside Dhaka due to the lock-down and public holiday till May 15.