Bangladesh Textile Unrest: Workers Demand Double Pay

Garment workers across Bangladesh have taken to the streets for a third consecutive day to demand higher pay.

The demonstrations began on Saturday when laborers called for a minimum wage increase from the current 12,500 taka to 30,000 taka. This request represents more than a doubling of the current rate. The protests have disrupted operations in the ready-made garment sector, a pillar of the national economy. This industry generates more than 80 percent of the country's export earnings.

Laili Begum, a 37-year-old sewing operator in Dhaka, describes the financial strain on her household. She earns roughly 15,000 taka per month, a figure that rises to about 20,000 taka with overtime. Despite this income, she recently removed her two children from school. Begum reports that her family often eats only puffed rice and snacks for dinner. She says she and her children frequently go without a proper lunch. Her son has become visibly thin due to the lack of adequate nutrition.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association reported that strikes impacted nearly one million workers across 529 factories on Sunday. Police deployed tear gas and stun grenades to clear crowds in the Ashulia industrial area. Dozens of protesters were arrested during the dispersal. In the Gazipur area on Monday, demonstrators blocked major highways. Clashes with police led to the vandalism of several vehicles.

In response to the unrest, the government announced the formation of a six-member wage board. This body will review worker demands for higher pay. The move follows a recent amendment to labor laws that shortened the wage review cycle from five years to three. Workers returned to the streets on Monday despite this announcement. The last minimum wage revision occurred in December 2023. Annual inflation has since reached 8.34 percent, reducing the purchasing power of low-income earners.

Rasel Khan, a worker in Ashulia, cites a growing debt burden as a primary concern. He earns between 18,000 and 20,000 taka monthly. He has accumulated debt of roughly 100,000 taka to support his family amid soaring prices. Zahid Hussain, a former lead economist at the World Bank, notes that persistent inflation over the past five years has eroded real incomes. He explains that workers are forced to cut daily living standards because they lack surplus income. He also suggests that a recent salary hike for government employees created a demonstration effect, encouraging private sector workers to seek similar relief.

Industry leaders acknowledge the need for fair wages but warn that large increases could pressure factories if global brands do not adjust their purchasing prices. Sheikh Hossain Muhammad Mustafiz, an official at the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, stated that international brands must share the responsibility of sustainable wage growth through fair pricing practices. Taqbir Huda, a senior fellow at the University of Oxford, argues that Western fashion brands have been slow to address workers' rights. He noted that the wage board was only formed after protests began. He emphasized that without addressing the cost-of-living crisis, the new board may not meet workers' expectations.

Political leaders have moved quickly to manage the situation. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman convened an emergency meeting of top officials on Sunday. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed met with factory owners on Monday to assure them that negotiations would determine the new wage. Labor Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury urged workers to return to their jobs. He stated that the wage board would begin deliberations shortly. Babul Akhter, a workers' representative on the board, has called for the new wages to take effect with January 2027 salaries. He also demanded the release of arrested workers and the withdrawal of cases against them.