IndustriALL Calls for Bangladesh Garment Wage Board Reconstitution
Bdbusinessdaily.com – IndustriALL demands wage board reconstitution and a new minimum wage for Bangladesh’s garment workers before the current three-year wage-review period ends in November. The IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) has urged the government to reconstitute the wage board by 30 September and finalise a revised wage by 30 November.
The council says a new rate should take effect in December, warning that workers are struggling with inflation and higher costs for food, housing, healthcare and other essentials. IBC General Secretary Salauddin Swapn raised the concerns at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on 19 September.
Deadline for Wage Review Is Approaching
Amendments to the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 reduced the minimum-wage review cycle from five years to three years. The latest ready-made garment wage was declared in November 2023, meaning the next review is due by November.
IndustriALL demands wage board reconstitution because the council says there has been no visible progress in forming the body responsible for examining sector conditions and recommending a new minimum wage to the government.
Under Section 139(2) of the labour law, a wage board has six months from its formation to submit its recommendation. Swapn said the board should have been reconstituted in the first week of May to allow enough time to complete the process within the legal review period.
The IBC wrote to the labour minister on 4 August seeking immediate action, but said its request had not received a response.
Existing wages have failed to keep pace with inflation and rising living expenses, according to Salauddin Swapn.
Wage Increases Have Not Ended Cost-of-Living Pressure
Minimum pay in Bangladesh’s garment sector was Tk1,662.50 in 2006. It increased to Tk3,000 in 2010, Tk5,300 in 2013, Tk8,000 in 2018 and Tk12,500 in 2023.
While wages have risen over time, the IBC argues that workers’ purchasing power remains under pressure. Higher household spending on meals, rent, transport, medical care and family needs can quickly reduce the benefit of a wage increase.
For that reason, IndustriALL demands wage board reconstitution without further delay and says the wage review should be treated as an urgent labour issue. A timely decision would give workers, employers and policymakers a clear process for discussing the next pay structure.
Call for Wider Industrial Wage Revisions
The council also called for new minimum wages in other industries. It referred to recent public-sector salary changes, saying government employees received increases ranging from 100% to 142% under a new pay scale. The lowest grade rose from Tk20,010 to Tk48,400.
The IBC said support for the garment industry should be balanced with stronger attention to workers’ rights and living standards. It maintains that wage policy should reflect the real cost of living for industrial workers.
October Demonstrations Planned
To support its demands, the IBC plans a rally outside the National Press Club at 11am on 4 October. Participants are expected to submit a memorandum to the labour minister.
Regional committees will organise rallies and protest processions from 5 to 20 October in Gazipur, Savar-Ashulia, Narayanganj and Chattogram. The IBC represents 19 labour organisations, including 16 involved in the garment sector.
FAQ: Bangladesh Garment Worker Wage Review
Why is a new garment wage board needed?
A wage board is needed to review conditions in the sector and recommend a revised minimum wage. The IBC says the current three-year review period ends in November.
What is the current minimum wage for garment workers?
The latest declared minimum wage for ready-made garment workers is Tk12,500, set in November 2023.
When does IndustriALL want the revised wage to begin?
The council wants the wage board reconstituted by 30 September, a decision completed by 30 November and the revised wage introduced in December.
