DHAKA: Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) has said the government has nodded to the pressure mounted by the owners of the garment factories in declaring the minimum wages for the garment workers.

“As per existing living expenses, the minimum wages for a labourer should be Tk 5,000,” Mujahidul Islam Selim, general secretary of CPB, said.

Addressing a national dialogue, organised by the CPB on Wednesday at its central office in the capital, Selim castigated the government for oppressing the labourers who took to the street for wages.

Prof. Mozaffer Ahmed, economist Anu Muhammad, Haidar Akbar Khan Rono, Dr Shahdin Malik and Bina Sikdar spoke, among others.

Prof. MM Akash presented a keynote.

Muzaffer Ahmed said the garments owners take the profit but they never take initiative to train the workers.

BDST: 2050 HRS, AUGUST 4, 2010