Clean Clothes Campaign supports Bangladesh garment wage increases
Five years after Rana Plaza,the demands of Bangladeshi garment workers were finally invited to address their minimum wage concerns at a national Minimum Wage Board meeting, set to take place on July 8th. Workers propose an increase of the minimum wage from 5,300 taka (63 US dollars), some of the lowest wages in the global garment industry, to 16,000 taka (about 191 US dollars) per pay period.
In addition to a pay increase, demands included a fixed structure of job grades that will determine an employee’s pay, which is currently non-existent in the country’s garment facilities. An annual pay increase of 10 percent has also made the list of demands, as well as a shortening of apprenticeship periods to a maximum of three months, along with increased wages for apprentices from 4,180 taka to 10,000 taka.
The list of demands, which has been formally submitted to the Minimum Wage board, has been widely supported by trade unions and labour rights groups, according to a statement from Clean Clothes Campaign.
