Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the present minimum wage for a garment worker is too little to meet the basic needs of life.
The government will soon announce the much-expected new wage structure for the garments workers, she said at a function at Gono Bhaban in the morning.
The function was arranged as the leaders of Mahila Sramik League and Mahila Jubo League came to meet the premier on the occasion of their 7th and 8th founding anniversary respectively, UNB reports.
“I've talked to the minister concerned and he told me that the new wage structure for garment workers will be announced soon," Hasina said at the function.
She was critical of those employers who discriminate against women in giving wages though they give the same labour and in many cases more thanthemale workers.
The PM said the government will take necessary steps to stop such discrimination against women.
She reiterated that her government's commitment to make Bangladesh a corruption-free country saying that the ongoing drive against corruption will continue.
The PM said development is not possible without eliminating corruption.
On recent unrest in the RMG sector, she said a vested quarter is active in instigating the hard working garment workers. “But the garment workers must realise that by vandalising garment factories, they are doing their own harm."
Hasina urged the garments workers to keep patience and assured them of government's sincerity about taking steps for their well-being.
She mentioned that the recent government initiative towards introducing rationing forthe garments workers.
The PM called upon the NGOs and development organisations to utilise the government's loan schemes on making dormitory for the garment workers, especially for the womengarmentworkers.
She said her government is determined to establish women's rights in every spheres ofthesociety.
In this regard, Hasina recalled that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman arranged quota facilities for women in government jobs and free primary education forgirls.
She urged the country's women community to ennch them witheducation and knowledge in order to uphold their dignity in thesociety.
“Women must establish their dignity in thesociety,” she said.
The PM said it was the Awami League government, which introduced female army officers, judge. Superintendent of Police and full-fledged secretary. "BNP-Jamaat elements tried to discourage this initiative but failed in their bid.”
She assured that Awami League would continue to work for political empowerment of women. “In the last general election, we gave direct nomination to 19 female candidates. And women are acting as important ministers in the government now,” she said.
Hasina urged all to bring change in their outlook and work for women empowerment as well as to establish their equal right in the society.
Mahila Jubo League President Nazma Akter MP and General Secretary Apu Ukil MR Mahila Sramik League President Rawshan Jahan Sathi and General Secretary Shamsunnahar also spokeatthefunction.
Meanwhile, the garment workers' organisations yesterday called off their demonstrations till July 28.
They took the decision at a view-exchange meeting with Munnujan Sufian, state minister for labour and manpower, at SramoBhabaninthecity.
“The minister said the government will announce new wage for garment workers byJuly 28. She requested us to stop agitation and we accepted that,” Towhidur Rahman, coordinator of Garment Sramik Oikya Parishad, told The Daily Star.
They however told the minister they would not accept the minimum wage if set below Tk 5,000a month, he added.
Munnujan assured the worker leaders the board formed to fix minimum wage would take a rational decision.
She asked them to exercise restraint during the period.
All 22 workers' bodies attended the meeting.
Israfll Alam, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on labour and manpower ministry, labour leaders Montoo Ghose, Abul Hossain, Mushrefa Mishu and Mahbubur Rahman were present, among others.
PM OFFTO NIGERIA
Hasina left for Nigeria early today on a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines to attend the 7th Developing-8 summit, where she will place proposals for enhanced cooperation between the member countries.
She will meet leaders of major Muslim countries on the sidelines of the D-8 summit in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, tomorrow, reports our staff correspondent.