7 publishers · first seen Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:00 UTC · updated Sun, 01 Nov 2026 16:52 UTC
Bangladesh has formed a six-member wage board to review the minimum wage for garment workers, following days of protests in industrial areas around Dhaka over rising living costs. Despite the announcement, thousands of workers continued demonstrations in Dhaka and Gazipur, demanding a monthly wage of 30,000 taka, more than double the current 12,500 taka, leading to clashes with police who used tear gas and sound grenades. The protests disrupted operations at 25 to 30 factories and blocked major roads, prompting the deployment of Border Guard Bangladesh personnel to restore order.
The garment sector, the world's second-largest after China, employs about 4 million workers and generates over 80 percent of the country's export earnings. Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury warned that prolonged disruptions could delay export shipments and payments. The wage board includes representatives from the government, workers, and factory owners and is tasked with determining a new minimum wage.
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