The government has announced plans to form a new wage board amid protests by garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.

The wage board will be formed on Sunday (November 1) to determine the minimum wages for garment workers. A related official notification or gazette will also be published on the same day, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said.

He made the announcement on Saturday (October 31) following a meeting with representatives of garment factory owners, workers and ministry officials.

The minister said the decision came after nearly four hours of discussions with labour organisations, particularly central leaders of garment workers’ groups.

“We have announced that the wage board will be formed on Sunday. Since the decision will be published in the form of a gazette, there should be no reason for further protests over the issue,” he said.

Garment workers have been staging demonstrations for several days, demanding that the minimum monthly wage be increased to Tk 30,000. On Saturday, workers staged protests and blocked roads at Mirpur-10 intersection in the capital.

Raising concerns over possible external influence, Ariful Haque said organised groups from outside were allegedly provoking workers.

He questioned whether those groups were genuinely affiliated with labour organisations or committed to the workers’ demands.

The minister also alleged that various conspiracies were underway surrounding the country’s garment sector, urging everyone to remain concerned about the issue.

As the wage board is scheduled to be formed on Sunday, the minister said there was no further reason for workers’ discontent to continue. He urged them to return to their workplaces.

Under the Labour Act, the government forms a four-member minimum wage board comprising a chairman, an independent member, an employers’ representative and a workers’ representative.

Representatives of employers and workers from the respective industries work with the board in determining minimum wages.

Section 139 of the Labour Act states that the government may consider determining minimum wage rates for workers in any industry following an application from the employers, workers or both parties.