The new wage structure for readymade garment (RMG) workers will take effect in December, with workers expected to receive their revised salaries from January, representatives of factory owners and workers said on Tuesday.
The agreement was reached at the first meeting of the newly formed Minimum Wage Board for garment workers, held at its office in Dhaka's Segunbagicha on November 4.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Babul Akter, the workers' representative on the board, said employers had agreed to implement the new wage structure in December.
"New wages will be implemented in December. Workers will receive their new salaries from January," he said.
ABM Shamsuddin, the factory owners' representative on the board, also confirmed the agreement.
Following the meeting, Babul urged workers to return to their respective factories and resume work.
The meeting was chaired by Syed Azad Subhani, chairman of the Minimum Wage Board.
The agreement comes amid widespread protests by garment workers in several industrial areas, including Mirpur, Ashulia, Hemayetpur, Gazipur and Narayanganj, demanding an increase in the minimum monthly wage to Tk30,000 from the existing Tk12,500.
Workers also called for an end to the blacklisting of workers and what they described as unjust layoffs.
Earlier on Tuesday, workers clashed with law enforcement personnel in Savar, Gazipur and Narayanganj as protests over wages continued.
The government formed the six-member wage board on November 1 to review the salary structure following widespread demonstrations and clashes between workers and law enforcement agencies.
The unrest has disrupted factory operations and triggered road blockades in several industrial areas, with hundreds of factories temporarily suspending operations.
