The wages for workers in the cold storage sector are set to increase 12 years after the last revision, with the minimum wage board finalising a draft proposal recommending a minimum monthly pay of Tk聽14,000 for the sector鈥檚 workers.
The last review of minimum wages in the sector took place in 2012 when the gross minimum monthly pay was set at Tk聽6,050.
The board published the proposal in a gazette notification on September 12, seeking written objections or suggestions, if there is any, on the recommendation from the stakeholders in 14 days.
The labour ministry on January 25, 2021 formed the wage board for the workers of cold storage sector through appointing Bangladesh Cold Storage Association first vice-president Quamrul Hussain Chowdhury as the employers鈥� representative to the board.
Later, the labour ministry appointed MA Khan Belal as the owners鈥� representative as it found that Quamrul died in May 2020.
On January 25, 2021, the ministry appointed RB Specialised Cold Storage Workers鈥� Union president Mohammad Hasim Rob as the workers鈥� representative to the wage board.
After nearly four years of negotiation, the wage board finalised its recommendations.
According to the gazette notification, the board incorporated six categories for workers in the proposal.
It also incorporated a provision of 5 per cent yearly increment.
For the grade I workers, the wage board has proposed Tk聽21,350 as minimum monthly wage that includes Tk 13,300 as basic pay, 50 per cent of the basic pay as house rent, Tk聽800 as medical allowance and Tk聽600 as travel allowance.
The wage for the grade-II workers has been proposed at Tk聽19,925 that includes Tk聽12,350 as basic pay, 50 per cent of the basic pay as house rent, Tk聽800 as medical allowance and Tk聽600 as travel allowance.
For the grade-III workers, the wage board has proposed Tk聽19,400 as minimum monthly wage that includes Tk聽12,000 as basic pay, 50 per cent of the basic pay as house rent, Tk聽800 as medical allowance and Tk 600 as travel allowance.
The wage for the grade IV workers has been proposed at Tk 14,000 that includes Tk 8,400 as basic pay, 50 per cent of the basic pay as house rent, Tk 800 as medical allowance and Tk聽600 as travel allowance.
The wage board has also suggested Tk聽9,800 as the monthly gross pay for the apprentice workers with the provision of a six-month apprenticeship.
The wage board consists of a chairman, an independent member, a permanent representative each from the employers and workers and a temporary representative each from the employers and workers. The labour ministry appoints the workers鈥� and employers鈥� representatives from the respective industry for recommending the minimum wage.
Sector people said that in the country there were 370 cold storages which employed nearly 6,000 people.