Page 14 - August-September-2018
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                                                                                                                                          More than 91 pc cotton crop



                                                                                                                                            cultivation target achieved































                   Bangladesh Government raises RMG                                                                                 Current season cotton crop output was expected to   hectares in order to produce over 14.37 million


                 workers’ minimum salary to Tk 8,000                                                                                cross 14.23 million bales as a 2pc increase was   cotton bales during the crop season 2018 to 2019.
                                                                                                                                    witnessed in the area under crop cultivation along
                                                                                                                                    with favorable weather conditions, suitable climate   The current sowing season, fixed crop cultivation
             The Bangladeshi Govt. has raised the minimum     president of Bangladeshi Garment makers and                           position for crop, better management and low     targets that have been achieved by more than 91
             monthly wage of the garment staff approximately 51   Exporters Association (BGMEA), the prime                          intensity of pest attack in the Punjab and Sindh   pc, since it has gone up 2pc as compared to the
             pc from Tk 5,300 to Tk 8,000, starting December.   minister’s suggestion to boost the manufactory                      province as compared the last year were indicating   area under cotton crop cultivation during same
             The gazette notification concerning the hike will be   owners’ projected monthly minimum of Tk 7,000 by                significant growth in output.                    period last year. Over all cotton sowing in the
             released soon. Of the entire monthly minimum wage   Tk 1,000 was accepted by them.                                                                                      Province of Punjab registered about 11 pc growth
             amount, Tk 4,100 is going to be basic wage, Tk                                                                         According to Dr Khalid Abdullah, Cotton          as it had cultivated the crop over 2.29 million
             2050 is going to be house rent, Tk 600 is the    However, Nazma Akter, president of Sammilita                          Commissioner, the cotton crop white fly attacks in   hectares of land as against the set targets of 2.31
             medical allowance, Tk 350 is the conveyance      Garments Sramik Federation, a workers' rights                         Punjab have reduced to 12pc from 17pc,           million hectares for the period under review.
             allowance and Tk 900 is the food expenditure.    asoosciation, urged the govt to slightly raise the                    mealybugs and pinkball worm attack reduced to
                                                              essential wage declared as alternative advantages                     23pc from 27pc and jassid reduced to13 pc against   Even then, in Sindh the crop sowing has been
             However, the hike has been rejected by several   as linked to the basic pay. The government ought to                   15 pc as compared to the preceding year. However,   decreased by 31 pc and is attributed to the low
             trade unions that have demanded a minimum        additionally give subsidies for the workers'                          the Sindh cotton crop remained under water stress   sowing trend with dry weather during the crop
             monthly wage of Tk 16,000 and an urge to the Prime   accommodation, food and education in order that                   due to rainfall below normal. He informed that due   sowing time and shortage of water for crop
             Minister has been made to review the decision.   they'll avoid wasting cash from their wages and                       to water stress, the overall 5-10 percent yield in   irrigation. Whereas the water situation remained
             There is no scope for not paying the salary at the   save. As the work-owners could increase the                       Sindh was expected to reduce, adding that prices   satisfactory in Punjab, which had supplemented the
             entry level. No amendment has been created within   manufacturing target after the increment of wage, it               of local produces remained stable and encourage   overall output for the season.
             the seven grades of garment staff.               has to be ensured that staff don't seem to be loaded                  the growers.
                                                              down with work                                                                                                         Dr Khalid Abdullah said, “The upward trend in crop
             The salary was mounted at Tk 5,300 the last time in                                                                    In the international markets, the prices of the above   production estimates were mainly attributed to
             2013, up from Tk 3,000 in 2010. It absolutely was Tk   Many leaders from two alternative rights groups,                mentioned commodity were recorded at 91 cents    multiple reasons including increase the area under
                                                                                                                                    and in the local market the commodity was sold at
             1,662.50 in 2006, Tk 940 in 1994 and Tk 627 in   Garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra and                                 Rs 4,000 per 40 kg. It may be recalled that cotton   crop cultivation, which had witnessed over 2
             1985. According to Mr Siddiqur Rahman, the       Bangladesh Garment Sramik Sanghati, also echoed                       crop had been sown over 2.69 million hectares of   percent increase during the period under review as
             owners' representative within the board and      her views.                                                            land as against the fixed targets of 2.95 million   compared the same period of last year.”


               August/September 2018                                                                                                                                                                       August/September 2018
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