THE relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to Dhaka鈥檚 outskirts of Savar had been in discussions until the relocation was somewhat complete a few years ago, with some prickly issues such as pollution still rearing the head. The relocation project began in 2003 on a High Court order of 2001 to save the moribund River Buriganga. The tannery units, in operation by the bank of the Buriganga since the 1960s, finally started moving out to the Savar Leather Estate in 2017. But, the wage of tannery workers has almost never effectively been in discussion. An estimate a decade ago showed that there were more than 1,750 large, medium and small tanneries that time that employed about half a million workers. Tanneries constitute a growing sector of trade and commerce. But, it hurts the environment and people. Yet, all the discussions regarding minimum wages have all along centred on some other sectors, not the tannery sector that could add to the country鈥檚 export earning if proper policies and measures are put in place. There has, therefore, been a call for an early execution of minimum wages for tannery workers. The call was put out at a consultation meeting in Dhaka on November 12.
The government is reported to have set Tk 13,500 in minimum wage for workers of export-oriented tannery industries in 2018, but owners are alleged not to have implemented the wage structure. Against this backdrop, the Centre for Policy Dialogue in May this year said that tannery workers should get paid Tk 22,776 in minimum monthly wage in view of the market situation and high inflation. A Centre for Policy Dialogue study showed that worker鈥檚 food and non-food expenses stood at a combined Tk 33,478 a month, or Tk 20,564 and Tk 12,914 respectively. The figures suggest that tannery workers live a miserable life because of the low pay. The problem intensified for the workers employed in units at Savar as the workers earlier employed at Hazaribagh could get to live nearby, but now they have trouble in the absence of adequate housing facilities at Savar. The Bangladesh Tannery Workers鈥� Union in July this year urged the government to declare Tk 25,000 in monthly minimum wage for tannery workers. The Minimum Wage Board finally on September 9 proposed a monthly wage of Tk 18,001 for workers at tanneries at Savar and in divisional areas and Tk 17,048 for workers at tanneries in other areas effective from 2024. But the labour ministry is alleged to be delaying an official notification for the implementation of the minimum wage for tannery workers.
It is imperative that the government ensures good industrial relations between owners of tanneries and their workers so that the workers are afforded some relief in the time of soaring prices amidst high inflation. The government should not, therefore, delay the notification and work out a mechanism for the implementation of the wage and its enforcement oversight.