Bangladesh garment workers seek higher minimum wage as living costs outpace pay

Economy · First reported 11 Nov, 06:50 · Updated 07:55

Image: Wikimedia Commons · Ysherazi · CC BY-SA 4.0

Garment workers in Gazipur and near Dhaka are seeking a monthly minimum wage of 30,000 taka, up from 12,500, after protests and factory shutdowns; the wage board agreed on Nov 4 to a revised structure from December, with first pay in January but no increase size set. Workers described cutting food and healthcare, while manufacturers cited cost pressure and existing benefits.

Summary written by Sumzly from 3 articles

Key facts

Protest demand: 30,000 taka monthly minimum, up from 12,500 taka
Wage board date: Agreed Nov 4 to a revised structure from December, with first pay in January
Export share: More than 80% of Bangladesh’s export earnings
Employment: More than 4 million people
Khatun pay: 13,500 taka basic, about 16,000 taka with overtime
Inflation: Averaged around 9% since 2022