Business · Malaysia Bureau
Bangladesh garment sector agrees minimum wage hike after worker unrest
Bangladesh's garment industry wage board has reached agreement on a minimum wage increase following days of protests and clashes. The decision comes as workers demanded substantially higher compensation to address cost-of-living pressures.
LSN Malaysia ·
A tripartite wage board in Bangladesh has approved an increase to the minimum wage for garment workers, concluding negotiations marked by five days of street protests and confrontations. The agreement represents a significant development for the sector, which forms a cornerstone of the nation's export economy and employs millions across factories nationwide.
Workers had campaigned for a monthly minimum wage of ৳30,000, representing a 140 percent increase from the existing floor of ৳12,500. The demands reflected growing concerns over purchasing power amid rising inflation and living costs across urban and industrial areas.
The wage board's decision to increase minimum compensation addresses longstanding grievances within the sector, where workers have periodically staged demonstrations over wage stagnation. Bangladesh's garment industry, the world's second-largest apparel exporter, has faced ongoing pressure to improve worker conditions and compensation.
Details regarding the final agreed wage level and implementation timeline remain subject to official announcement. The outcome signals efforts by industry stakeholders and government authorities to balance worker welfare with sector competitiveness amid regional competition for apparel manufacturing investment.