Bangladesh Wage Board to Review Pay as Protests Continue

Bangladesh’s garment wage board was due to begin reviewing industry pay on November 4, as protests continued over workers’ demand to raise the monthly minimum wage to Tk 30,000 from Tk 12,500. The six-member board, formed by the government, includes representatives of workers and factory owners. Its first meeting was scheduled for Wednesday; the reports do not confirm the meeting’s outcome. Protests entered their fifth day on November 4, with demonstrations and clashes reported in Savar and Gazipur, industrial areas on the outskirts of Dhaka. Workers blocked roads and highways, while police used tear gas and sound grenades. Factory operations were suspended in some areas amid continuing unrest. Workers say rising costs for food, housing and other essentials have made the existing minimum wage inadequate for basic household expenses. The demand is for a Tk 17,500 increase in the monthly floor. The current Tk 12,500 minimum was set in 2023, according to one report. Factory shutdown tallies cited in the reporting refer to different dates and measures. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association said unrest had disrupted operations at more than 300 factories,...