The primary objective of this study is to propose a minimum wage for tannery workers in 2024, intended to serve as a benchmark for ensuring a living wage and safeguarding workers’ rights in the workplace. The study primarily utilises data from a primary survey conducted across 35 tanneries and 105 tannery workers, supplemented by Key Informant Interviews (KII), Expert Group Meetings (EGM), and field visit observations. The findings indicate that a significant portion of the surveyed tanneries have not implemented the 2018 minimum wage and do not adhere to any grading system. Employing the Anker method, the study estimates that the ideal minimum wage for tannery workers in 2024 should be BDT 22,776. The study strongly recommends robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure the implementation of the newly proposed minimum wage in the future.
Authors: Tamim Ahmed, Khondaker Golam Moazzem and M M Fardeen Kabir
Publication Period: August 2024