Tannery workers to get Tk10,000 in advance, next meeting on min wage 20 Feb

Tannery owners have agreed to provide Tk10,000 in advance to the tannery workers besides their salaries for January.

The decision was made after the Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA), Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLLFEA) and Tanner Workers' Union failed to reach a consensus on the implementation of the five grades of the minimum wage set by the government.

Leaders of the three organisations were present at the meeting held at BTA's Dhanmondi office yesterday (1 February), where the next date for further discussion on the minimum wage of tannery workers was set for 20 February.

During the meeting, BTA General Secretary Md Sakhawat Ullah said the advance payment will be adjusted from the increased salaries of the tannery workers after a final decision on their minimum wage is made.

"We all have agreed to increase the salaries of the tannery workers. However, we have decided to provide Tk10,000 in advance to the workers as we failed to reach a decision on their minimum wages. The amount will be adjusted later," said Sakhawat.

"The BTA election is approaching, and we have some related work to do. We will sit again on 20 February after finishing these tasks. We hope to find a solution in one or two meetings. We all have agreed on this," Sakhawat added.

Demanding minimum wage, tannery workers continue protests at Savar

Contacted, Abdul Malek, general secretary of the Tannery Workers Union, echoed Sakhawat.

Meanwhile, tannery workers have discontinued their demonstration after yesterday's meeting as per a decision by the union.

Nilufa Begum, an employee of Apex Tannery and representative of the workers in the union, has played a leading role during the demonstrations over the last few days. 

Asked about the situation, Nilufa said, "We have paused our movement as per the decision by the union taken during the tripartite meeting. We hope the workers' demand will be met in the next meeting on 20 February."

Tannery workers had been demonstrating for the last few days over implementing five grades of the minimum wage set by the government, which was discontinued on Thursday (30 January).