Labor Minister’s Foreign Trip Canceled Amidst Workers’ Protests; Prime Minister to Hold Meeting with Ministers

Amidst protests by garment workers demanding wage increases and unrest in various factories, the government has become active in managing the situation. As part of this effort, Arifur Haque Chowdhury, the Minister of Labor and Employment, has canceled his visit to the United Arab Emirates. Prime Minister Tareque Rahman is set to hold a meeting with several ministers and advisors, including those from the Ministries of Finance, Home Affairs, and Labor, to determine the course of action to address the labor unrest.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday (November 1) evening. A source from the Cabinet Division stated that the Prime Minister has summoned six to seven ministers and advisors to discuss the ongoing situation. In addition to the ministers from the Ministries of Finance, Home Affairs, and Labor, ministers from several other ministries and Advisor Mahdi Amin may also be present. The meeting is likely to be held after Maghrib prayers.

Sources from the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Labor stated that Arifur Haque Chowdhury, the Minister of Labor and Employment, met with the Prime Minister around 1 PM on Sunday. Earlier, around 11:30 AM, the government formed a new wage board to review the wages of garment workers.