Knitwear garments owners association BKMEA has written to foreign buyers requesting a 5 percent increase in the export value (FOB) of each garment made to implement the new wage structure for garment workers.
On behalf of BKMEA, on Wednesday (13 December), the organization's executive president Mohammad Hatem gave this letter to the brand forum, various brands, buyer organizations and buyer representatives. Mohammad Hatim confirmed this.
Mohammad Hatem said to foreign brands, buyers and their representatives, you are aware that the minimum wage board formed by the government has announced the new wage structure for garment workers, which will be effective from this December. Undoubtedly, this new wage structure is a huge burden on the shoulders of garment manufacturers. Meanwhile, due to the increase in the cost of raw materials as well as the increase in the cost of gas, electricity and water, the operating cost of the factory has increased to such an extent that it has almost reached an unbearable level.
The letter also said that according to the new wage structure, the lowest grade workers will get a monthly wage of Tk. 12,500. However, if they do 2 hours of overtime a day, their wages will be Tk. 15,850 at the end of the month. Under the new structure, wages for the lowest grade have increased by 56.25 percent. The wage difference for each grade in the wage structure is about Tk. 2 thousand. Entrepreneurs will definitely be under financial pressure to implement this new wage structure.