DHAKA: Speakers at an opinion exchange meeting Wednesday suggested that the wages of the garment workers must be fixed in line with inflation, capability of the owners and expenditures of workers.

They suggested that the government, owners and the workers must show positive attitude in fixing the wages.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) organized the opinion exchange meeting at Sheraton Hotel with Editors of electronic and print media and Dhaka University teachers.

The editors said introducing trade unions in garment factories may resolve the unrest in factories and help the BGMEA.

The acting Editor of the daily Sangbad, Moniruzzaman said if there is trade union in the factories, they can resolve problems with the owners.

BGMEA President Salam Murshedi said they want to give the workers due wages, but their capacity must be considered.

He said so far 140 factories were shut and export of apparels reduced by 0.52 per cent during the past 11 months because of different reasons including global economic turmoil, over valuation of US dollar, and fall of prices of Bangladeshi apparels in Europe and America.

Dhaka University Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, Executive Editor of the daily Ittefaq Habibur Rahman Milon, editor of Vorer Kagoj Shyamol Datta, New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Mazumder, Joint Editor of Prothom Alo Abdul Qaium, Daily Dinkal editor Rezwan Siddiq, News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Executive Editor of Dainik Destiny Mohammad Abul Faisal also spoke.

BDST/ 2110 HRS, JULY 14, 2010.