The government has released the gazette detailing the recently declared minimum wage for garment workers, reducing the grades from seven to five and setting the monthly pay at Tk 12,500.

The Minimum Wage Board, operating under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, urges objections to be submitted within 14 days for potential revisions.

Effective from December 1, the new wage structure will be implemented, with workers receiving salaries under the revised system starting in January.

The gazette outlines the new structure, categorizing workers into five grades. An entry-level, fifth-grade worker will now receive a minimum monthly salary of Tk 12,500, with components including basic salary, house rent, medical allowance, conveyance, and food allowance.

The fourth-grade workers will be paid Tk 13,025, followed by third-grade workers at Tk 13,550, second-grade at Tk 14,150, and first-grade at Tk 14,750.

Apprentice workers will receive a gross salary of Tk 9,875, and their apprenticeship tenure is set at three months, extendable by an additional three months if necessary.

The government has also outlined the salary range for employees in apparel factories, with different grades receiving minimum monthly salaries ranging from Tk 12,800 to Tk 18,800.

The minimum wage for garment workers has seen revisions over the years. However, experts suggest that the effectiveness of these changes depends on the government’s ability to control inflation effectively.