Nazneen Ahmed, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said the formation of a wage board in a timely manner was necessary to prevent instability in the garment sector. "If the wage board had been formed earlier, the unrest could have been avoided," she stated.
She made these remarks as the chief guest at a shadow parliament session titled 'What to do to remove instability in the garment sector,' organized by Debate for Democracy at the capital's FDCI on Friday. The organization's chairman, Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran, presided over the event, which was also attended by judges and debaters from the winning team.
Working Environment as Crucial as Fair Wages
Ahmed asserted that increasing wages alone cannot ensure the protection of garment workers. Alongside fair wages, factories must guarantee a good working environment, workers' rights, maternity leave, and respectful conduct. She emphasized the need for tripartite discussions involving owners, workers, and the government to determine wages.Wages Must Reflect Cost of Living
According to a report by Business Standard, Ahmed opined that minimum wages should reflect inflation, living costs, and workers' education and healthcare expenses. She noted that addressing these factors through a timely-formed wage board could have averted the sector's instability.Panelists at the shadow parliament recommended establishing a sustainable wage policy and an effective monitoring framework for the sector's long-term stability. The need for regular factory-level monitoring to ensure a worker-friendly environment was also highlighted.
