Historic Win: Bangladesh Hikes Minimum Wage For Garment Workers

 

After months of protest, Bangladeshi garment workers have finally won a pay increase. Bangladeshi authorities would increase the minimum pay for garment workers by 56.25%. Additionally, the workers will receive a 5% yearly raise. Their pay has increased for the first time since 2019.

The increase was officially announced on Tuesday by Bangladesh’s State Minister of Labor and Employment, Monnujan Sufian, following a week of protests by garment workers demanding greater pay.

Workers will now receive a minimum salary of 12,500 taka per month instead of 8,000 taka. The new wage policy will go into force on December 01, 2023. 

“We are announcing the minimum wage for garment workers as per Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directive,” declared Monnujan Sufian.

Approximately 4 million garment workers are employed by about 4,000 firms in Bangladesh. Their pay has been inadequate for many years. Bangladesh’s garment industry has grown thanks in part to low salaries for workers in the industry.