The Minimum Wage Board for the garment industry in Bangladesh has asked the representatives of workers and factory owners to submit their proposals by April 25. The directive came at the board’s first meeting presided over by its chairman Syed Aminul Islam. It was formed on January 13 to formulate a minimum wage structure within six months.

Syed Aminul Islam says the board will send its recommendation to the government as soon as possible. Several trade unions staged demonstrations in front of the board’s office demanding taka 16,000-18,000 as the minimum monthly wage while the meeting was under way. To set the minimum wage Inflation, living standards, risks, cost of production and the capacity of the owners will be taken into account. In 2013, the minimum wage was set at taka 5,300 with a basic starting wage of taka 3,000 for entry-level garment workers with a 5 per cent annual raise.