Female workers work at a garments factory in Bangladesh. Star file photo

The government on Sunday announced a new minimum wage board for garment workers, amid protest from the owners.

The decisions of the new wage board would be effective from May 1, 2013, said Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui on Sunday.

The minister announced the formation of the wage board at Bangladesh Secretariat in presence of garment owners, labour leaders and other ministers.

“Whenever the wage board is formed, the workers will receive salaries according to the new structure from May 1, 2013,” he told the meeting.

Siddiqui said, “It is the decision of the prime minister.”

“I hope the owners and workers will work in good relationship as the government has announced a fresh wage board for the garment workers,” he said.

Emerging from the meeting, primarily, the leaders of the garment sectors protested the decision of the government and said they are not ready to hike the salary as the sector is going through a difficult time for political unrest and global financial recession.

The leaders also said the minister did not even discuss with the garment owners to reach a decision over such an important matter.

Later the leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and two former presidents of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) held emergency meeting with Labour and Employment Minister Raziuddin Ahmed Razu.

After the meeting with Razu, the leaders said they would follow the decisions of the proposed wage board.

“Now, we have no objection. We will follow the decision of the new wage board,” said BGMEA President Atiqul Islam.