Garment workers in Bangladesh are set to receive revised wages starting January, following an agreement to finalise the new minimum wage structure by December. The decision emerged after the first meeting of the six-member minimum wage board on Wednesday, offering a potential end to weeks of unrest that have disrupted the country’s vital export sector.
The board, chaired by Senior District Judge Syed Azad Subhani, brings together factory owners and worker representatives. Both sides have committed to finalising the new pay structure within December, allowing workers to see the increased salaries in their January pay packets. This marks a significant step in addressing the long-standing grievances of a workforce that has been struggling with rising living costs.
The current minimum monthly wage stands at Tk 12,500, a figure set in December 2023. Under the amended labour law, which shortened the review period from five years to three, a revision was due by December 2026. Workers, however, have been demanding a minimum wage of Tk 30,000, citing soaring prices of essential commodities, house rent, and healthcare that have made daily life untenable.
The wage negotiations come on the heels of violent protests that swept through major industrial hubs like Dhaka, Gazipur, and Savar, leading to the suspension of operations in hundreds of factories. While the government has urged workers to pursue their demands through the wage board rather than street protests, it has also acknowledged the need for a wage structure that reflects both the workers' living standards and the country's economic reality.
With the second board meeting scheduled for next week, all eyes are on whether the finalised wage will be enough to quell the discontent and stabilize the sector that forms the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy.
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Bangladesh