In a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, it called for reassessing of the proposed minimum wage and encouraged a collaborative effort between employers and worker representatives to establish a legal minimum wage that adheres to international labour and industry standards, prioritising human rights.
The five organisations—Fair Labour Association, Amfori, Ethical Trading Initiative, Fair Wear and Mondiaal FNV—represent over 2,500 brands, retailers and suppliers that work with over 2,900 factories in Bangladesh.
The five organisations collectively advocated periodic adjustments in minimum wage levels to prevent the erosion of workers' purchasing power and address wage inequality, domestic media outlets reported.
The gap between the legal minimum wage and the average living wage in Bangladesh is the highest among major garment-producing countries, posing challenges to the RMG sector's aspirations to meet global standards and maintain its position as a responsible sourcing country, the letter said.
The proposed minimum wage of Tk12,500 ($113.45) is worrisome as it is deemed insufficient to cover basic needs and provide a decent standard of living for garment workers, the coalition said.
The figure also contradicts the government's proclaimed commitment to upholding decent work standard, the letter said.
The coalition also urged the government to release arrested protesters and drop all charges.
ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)
Receive daily prices and market insights straight to your inbox. Subscribe to AlchemPro Weekly!
marketing@alchempro.com
