The minimum wage board has called for reforms in the Bangladesh labour act and labour rules, seeking a mandate to act as the implementation authority for wages it announced for the industrial sector workers.

Minimum wage board chairman Mamunur Rashid submitted a set of proposals to the labour ministry on November 6, highlighting the need for amending the labour act and the labour rules to strengthen the wage board and ensure the effective implementation of workers’ wages.

Regarding the labour act, he proposed a new section, 149(3), which stipulates that to ensure the implementation of the wage rate, the minimum wage board will assume responsibility for conducting on-site inspections of privately-owned industrial establishments and factories across the country.

The wage board has also proposed adding a new clause, 149(4), seeking the mandate to conduct mobile courts and impose penalties to ensure the implementation of wages and allowances in the industrial sector.

The proposed section 149(4)(a) stipulates that the chairman of the minimum wage board may conduct mobile courts to adjudicate offenses specified in Sections 289, 294, 295, and 296 of the labour act, or to verify and ensure that wages, benefits and gratuities are paid in accordance with the published gazette.

The proposed section 149(4)(b) states that based on complaints received by the minimum wage board or during mobile court proceedings, if crimes related to wages, benefits, or gratuities are discovered or reported in front of the chairman, such offenses, as outlined in part (a) of this section, may be addressed immediately.

If the accused is found guilty — based on confession, examination of surrounding circumstances and evidences — the prescribed punishment under this act may be imposed on the spot, the proposal said.

Regarding the formation of the minimum wage board, Mamunur proposed adding a clause, stating that the chairman of the board should be appointed from among individuals holding the rank of senior district and sessions judge, or a retired senior district and sessions judge from the Bangladesh Judicial Service.

In relation to the appointment of board members, the wage board also proposed adding to the labour act a clause stipulating that members should represent the actual owners and workers of the relevant industry, ensuring their involvement in the board’s decision-making.

The wage board chairman also proposed adding a new provision to the labour rules, stating that in both cases, the nominations of board members will be made through the Department of Labour and the chairman of the minimum wage board.

Similar to the Department of Labour, the chairman of the board will also have the authority to send the list of members to the ministry.

In the event of resignation, death, or departure of any board member, it is proposed that the member be re-appointed within two months to fill the vacancy.

Regarding the amendment to section 111(5), the wage board proposed that the basic wage of a worker will not be less than 50 per cent of the gross wages and the annual increase in basic wages will not be less than 5 per cent of the basic wage.

It proposed amending section 125 of the labour rules to ensure that the chairman, members, and assistants of the wage board receive an honorarium, as set by the government, for attending meetings.