RMG’s Workers New Wages Effective From January

BGMEA has sent a letter to garment owners to implement the new wages structure in ready-made garments sector on time. In a letter signed by BGMEA president Farooq Hasan, it has been said to the garment owners that wages should be paid according to the new minimum wage from the beginning of 2024. To be fully implemented in due course it is quite challenging for us.  

The letter sent by BGMEA to the media on Tuesday (December 26) has said these things.

Addressing the industrial owners, BGMEA President said, 'you must remember that the government has published the final gazette of the minimum wages of garment workers on December 20. According to the gazette, the new wages are effective from 1 December 2023 and the workers will start getting the new wages from the beginning of the new year (2024). 

Meanwhile garment factories are currently preparing to pay workers according to the new wages from January 2024. BGMEA has taken several steps to make the new wage regime and changes clear to member factories.

So far we have conducted 13 workshops (each half-day long) for a total of 1,900 participants (factory personnel) from 1,300 factories.'

He said, "I have already told you that the global inflation and the measures taken by advanced economies to control inflation have created a situation where the price line is pushed down and on the other hand our cost of production is increasing at an exorbitant rate." 

The sudden increase in electricity, gas, diesel, transportation costs and other cost factors are having a significant impact on the cost of production. Since July this year, Bangladesh Bank has increased interest rates to curb inflation, which has further increased our financing costs, thereby increasing the cost of production of goods.

Even various registration and certification fees including bank charges and fees of municipalities and city corporations have increased significantly.