DHAKA: The Government fixed new wage scales for water-transport workers, dividing into three categories, for the next five years with Tk 3,495 as minimum pay.

Labour directorate director Abu Taleb Mia announced Sunday that the new wage structure has been gazetted.

The newly published gazette fixed Tk3,495 as minimum basic pay and 14,755 as maximum for them.  As per the new wage structure, they would also be facilitated with house, medical and laundry allowances.

The category ‘Ka’ includes workers of sea coasters, coastal tankers and inland water cargo vessels and barges. The salary range has been fixed between Tk 14,755 and Tk 5,975 for them with 60 percent of the basic salary as house rent, Tk 700 as medical allowance and Tk 250 as laundry allowance.

Category ‘Kha’ contains minimum wage as Tk 3,825 and maximum Tk 10,200 has been allocated for the shallow tanker labourers. They will also get 55 percent of the basic salary as house rent, Tk 700 as medical allowance and another amount of Tk 250 as laundry allowance.

With wage structure of maximum Tk 8,760 and minimum Tk 3,495, the Gha’ category includes workers of passenger launches, cargo vessels, towing launches, inland barges and bulkhead vessels (for dredging and carrying sand).  

They will be given 20 percent of their wages as house rent, Tk 500 as medical allowance and another Tk 50 for laundry.

BDST: 1900 pm, 27 June 2010
JIL/MRH/SMS/MUA