The government will form a wage board on Sunday to determine new wages for readymade garment (RMG) workers, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said, urging workers to return to work and refrain from further protests.

He said initiatives had already been taken to form the wage board and clear workers’ outstanding wages, leaving no reason to continue demonstrations.

The minister made the remarks at a press briefing on Saturday after a meeting with representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at the Labour Building in Bijoynagar, Dhaka.

He said the decision to form the wage board was taken following a five-hour discussion with labour leaders on Friday. Leaders of both BGMEA and BKMEA had agreed to the proposal, and workers’ representatives would also be included in the board.

Regarding unpaid wages, the minister said discussions had been held with representatives of factory owners, who would take steps to settle the dues as soon as possible. He added that discussions had focused on paying workers by November 7.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury warned that vandalism and factory closures could damage the garment industry and disrupt production and shipments. Delays in delivering products to buyers could affect owners’ earnings and, consequently, their ability to pay workers.

He alleged that some outsiders were attempting to incite workers at different factories and urged the media to examine video footage to distinguish genuine workers from those participating in the unrest.

Calling on workers to resume work, the minister stressed that the government and factory owners were taking steps to address their demands. He urged owners, workers and all stakeholders to act responsibly to maintain stability in the country’s garment sector.

The briefing was moderated by Labour and Employment Ministry Secretary Md. Abdur Rahman Tarafdar. BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem, Executive President Fazle Shamim Ehsan, and BGMEA Vice-Presidents Mizanur Rahman and Rezwan Selim, among others, were present.