Amid ongoing wage disputes and factory unrest, the government has launched a subsidized rice distribution program for readymade garment workers. Under the Open Market Sale (OMS) scheme, workers are receiving rice at Tk 30 per kilogram. The initiative comes at a critical juncture as negotiations over minimum wages enter their final phase.

Wage Board Meeting

Employer representatives will present their wage proposal to the Minimum Wage Board on Monday. Workers have previously submitted a demand for a minimum wage of Tk 32,000. The employers' position will be revealed at Monday's meeting. BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan has called a special general meeting of members at the organization's Uttara office on Saturday to discuss the current situation.

Factory Closures and Worker Protests

Despite the ongoing wage revision process, the situation in garment manufacturing areas has not fully calmed. Workers from several factories in Kaliakoir upazila, Gazipur, blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway for two hours on Thursday. In Ashulia, workers from several garment factories walked out without reporting to work. Due to days of continuous unrest, owners have declared seven factories in Savar-Ashulia closed indefinitely. In total, authorities at nearly 200 factories in the Gazipur and Savar-Ashulia areas have been forced to declare holidays.

OMS Rice Distribution

In this context, rice distribution at Tk 30 per kilogram has begun under the OMS scheme to ease workers' hardship. The initiative is seen as a relief measure for workers, though the core demand for wage increase remains under discussion. Workers' primary demand is a minimum wage of Tk 32,000, while the employers' proposal has yet to be announced.

Next Steps

Monday's Wage Board meeting is now the most crucial event. Once the employers' proposal amount is revealed, workers' reactions and subsequent action plans will be determined. Prior to that, Saturday's BGMEA special general meeting may outline the employers' strategy. Workers' organizations are also expected to announce new programs in the coming days.