Bangladesh garment workers protest as wage board reviews pay

Garment workers in Bangladesh continued protests over pay on Monday, disrupting factories and transport as the government’s newly formed wage board began reviewing their demand for a higher minimum wage. Factories also began reopening after widespread closures, though manufacturers remained concerned about renewed unrest. Workers are seeking a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, more than double the current minimum of Tk 12,500. They say rising costs for food, housing, transport and healthcare have eroded their purchasing power. The existing minimum wage was set in 2023. The government formed a six-member wage board on November 1 to review pay and recommend revised rates. It includes representatives of workers and employers, a government representative and an independent member. Labour Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury urged workers to return to their jobs, but demonstrations continued after the board was announced. No recommendation date has been reported. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association said 529 factories were disrupted and 987,190 workers were affected. Those figures cover multiple industrial areas, including Gazipur, Savar-Ashulia, Dhaka and...