In brief
The government’s newly‑formed six‑member wage board includes representatives of workers, factory owners and the state, and is tasked with setting a new minimum wage after workers demanded 30,000 taka per month. Despite the announcement on Sunday, thousands of garment workers around Dhaka remain on strike, prompting factory closures and clashes with police. The move follows warnings that prolonged disruptions could delay export shipments and harm the sector that contributes roughly 10 percent of the nation’s GDP.
Bangladesh announced the creation of a new wage board at the end of Sunday to review the minimum wage for garment workers, a move that came as thousands of workers continued to strike in and around Dhaka. Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain Chowdhury of the Ministry of Labour and Employment told reporters that the issue of forming the board had been resolved and that workers should return to work “smoothly.”
"The issue of forming the wage board has been resolved. There will be no more problems now," the adviser added. "The workers should return to work and work smoothly," he commented.
The garment industry, the backbone of Bangladesh’s export‑driven economy, employs millions of workers and accounts for about ten percent of gross domestic product. It is the world’s largest apparel producer after China, and a significant source of foreign earnings for the country. However, the sector is facing mounting challenges, including rising production costs, periodic gas and electricity shortages, and uncertainty in energy markets linked to tensions in the Middle East, especially amid the United States‑Israel war on Iran.
In its current form, the six‑member wage board will include representatives from the government, factory owners, and workers. Its mandate is to determine a new minimum wage that reflects the eroded purchasing power of garment workers, who have cited rapidly increasing costs of food, housing, transport and healthcare. Workers have demanded a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka – more than double the present 12,500 taka – which would lift their earnings to roughly $242 per month.
The protests began on Saturday with workers demanding higher pay. About thirty garment factories on the outskirts of Dhaka declared holidays in response. Superintendent Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan of the Ashulia Industrial Police reported that the protests had triggered factory closures and that the sector’s production had been disrupted, potentially jeopardizing timely export shipments.
Police Response and Worker Injuries
Clashes between striking workers and police forces were reported across several industrial hubs. Police in Ashulia fired tear gas and sound grenades during the confrontations, while both police officers and workers sustained injuries. The superintendent said that several individuals were injured, but did not provide exact numbers.
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury warned that prolonged factory closures could derail export shipments and delay payments from international buyers, creating further difficulties for both manufacturers and workers alike. He underscored the need for the industry to maintain production to avoid hitting critical deadlines imposed by global buyers.
While the government emphasizes the importance of resolving wage disputes through the newly created board, the continued protests indicate deep mistrust among workers regarding the speed and fairness of the process. Coupled with the sector’s economic significance, the dispute raises questions about public accountability and the safeguarding of worker rights in an industry that is vital to Bangladesh’s national economy.
In the days following the board’s formation, factory owners and industry associations have urged the government to act swiftly to prevent further disruptions. They argue that the sector’s international reputation and the livelihoods of millions will depend on a timely resolution to the wage crisis. The outcome of the board’s deliberations, therefore, carries broad consequences for Bangladesh’s political economy, international trade relationships, and the everyday lives of countless garment workers across the country.
