BANGLADESH FORMS SIX-MEMBER WAGE BOARD AS GARMENT WORKERS DEMAND MORE THAN DOUBLE THE MINIMUM PAY

November 1, 2026

Bangladesh has announced the formation of a six-member minimum wage board to review salaries in its garment industry following widespread protests by workers demanding higher wages. The government’s decision, announced on Sunday, November 1, comes amid demonstrations across major industrial areas, including Dhaka and Gazipur, where workers have blocked roads and disrupted factory operations.

Garment workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka (approximately $245), more than twice the existing minimum of 12,500 taka. They argue that rising expenses for food, housing, transportation and healthcare have significantly reduced their purchasing power, making the existing wage structure increasingly difficult to sustain.

The board will be chaired by Senior District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Ashfaqur Rahman. Its members include representatives of garment manufacturers, employers' organisations and labour unions, alongside an independent representative from the University of Dhaka. The board has been tasked with reviewing the existing wage structure and determining a revised minimum wage for the sector.

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury announced the formation of the board at a press conference in Dhaka and urged workers to return to their workplaces. He said the government was treating their demands seriously and expected the board to begin its work promptly. Labour representatives have welcomed its formation while expressing hope that the review process will commence without delay.

However, demonstrations continued despite the announcement. Workers gathered at several locations in Dhaka and Gazipur, blocking major roads and disrupting transport. Clashes between protesters and police were reported, with security forces deploying tear gas and other measures to disperse crowds. Authorities also deployed Border Guard Bangladesh personnel in parts of Gazipur, while several factories suspended operations amid the unrest.

The protests have placed additional pressure on an industry that employs more than four million people and serves as the backbone of Bangladesh's export economy. The country is the world's second-largest apparel exporter after China, with garment shipments generating a substantial share of its foreign earnings. Industry representatives have warned that prolonged factory closures could disrupt production schedules, export deliveries and payments.

The formation of the wage board marks an important step towards addressing the workers' demands, but the central question of how much their minimum salaries will increase remains unresolved. The board's deliberations will determine whether the government's intervention can ease the industrial unrest while balancing workers' demands with the financial pressures facing garment manufacturers.