DHAKA – Commerce minister Tipu Munshi today urged International Labour Organization (ILO) to play a role in the logical price hike for Bangladesh of readymade garment (RMG) items.

The minister was exchanging views with ILO country director Tuomo Poutiainen at his secretariat office.

He said owners had to spend huge amount of money for modernization and safety work in RMG factories after the Rana Plaza incident, and implementation of new wages also pushed the expenditure further but “buyers of RMG items do not increase the price in accordance with it”.

Tipu said Bangladesh’s RMG sector has reached this stage overcoming adverse situations and government is working sincerely to ensure the reasonable wages of labourers.

Expressing gratitude to the ILO, he said Bangladesh has got ILO’s cooperation and would continue to work in future with ILO.

ILO Country Director said Bangladesh’s labour industry has attained visible development and hoped this progress would continue in future.

Additional secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh was present.