Bangladesh forms wage board as garment workers keep up protests

Bangladesh has established a new board to assess the minimum wage for garment workers amid ongoing protests that have disrupted industrial regions near Dhaka, according to the source. The garment industry serves as the economic cornerstone of Bangladesh, employing a large workforce and generating most of the country's foreign income.

The board comprises representatives from the government, workers, and factory owners. Despite the formation of the board, several thousand workers persist in demonstrating in Dhaka's industrial zones, resulting in confrontations with law enforcement who deployed tear gas and sound grenades. Labour Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury informed a press conference in Dhaka that the board has been deliberating the issue for the past three days alongside labor leaders and factory owners.

Choudhury emphasized that the new board aims to address workers' concerns and called on the demonstrators to resume work at their factories. However, labor leaders have asserted that their demands extend beyond the establishment of the board, highlighting factors such as inflation and increasing living expenses. Currently, garment workers earn around Tk13,000 (approximately US$106) per month, according to Kalpona Akhter of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity.

Akhter informed AFP that, given the rising cost of living, their current demand exceeds Tk30,000. The Bangladesh garment sector comprises numerous factories producing items like T-shirts, jeans, and sweaters for prominent brands in Europe and the United States. The industry is also striving to broaden its reach beyond its usual markets, having recently gained access to the Japanese market and exploring additional export opportunities as it competes with regional rivals like Vietnam.