RMG unrest driven by ulterior motives: Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said no movement concerning workers’ interests is currently underway, adding that those resorting to violence in the name of a movement have different motives.

“The workers’ demand was for the formation of a wage board, and that has already been formed,” he said.

The minister made the remarks on Monday afternoon while speaking to journalists following a meeting with garment workers’ leaders at the secretariat in Dhaka.

Salahuddin said workers never blocked roads and highways over the formation of the wage board. “We have seen that the masked individuals who were arrested chanted political slogans there,” he added.

Earlier in the morning, leaders of ready-made garment (RMG) factory owners met the home minister at the secretariat. 

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Salahuddin said the minimum wage for RMG workers would be announced within a specific timeframe after discussions with all stakeholders.

The wage board to determine the new minimum wages for workers was formed on Sunday.

Regarding the meeting with garment factory owners, the minister said the government sought cooperation from industrialists, who assured it of their support.

He said the owners informed them that some industrialists and factory owners deliberately shut down their factories.

“We have asked them to provide us with a list of those factories. We have also asked them to submit a list of the organisations and names of some labour leaders who are conspiring to create unrest,” he said.