Bangladesh’s garment-sector wage board agreed on Nov. 4 to introduce a new minimum-pay structure in December after five days of protests and clashes, but it has not decided how much wages will increase.
The agreement sets a timetable, not a new pay rate. Workers are expected to receive their first pay under the new scale in January for work done in December. The government formed a six-member board on Nov. 1.
It brings together representatives of workers and factory owners to negotiate the change. Workers are demanding a monthly minimum wage of 30,000 taka, up from the current 12,500 taka. They say rising costs for food, housing and transport have reduced what their wages can buy.
Protests continued while the board met. Demonstrations were reported in industrial areas including Gazipur, Mirpur, Narayanganj and Savar. Reports described road blockades and damage to factories.
They also described clashes in which police used tear gas to disperse crowds. The unrest has disrupted factory operations. The industry employs millions of people and accounts for a large share of Bangladesh’s export earnings.
The board’s next task is to settle the pay structure before the agreed December start date.