Bangladesh Forms Six-Member Wage Board After Garment Workers Demand Higher Salaries

**Dhaka, November 1, 2026:** Bangladesh has formed a six-member wage board to review the salaries of garment workers following demonstrations and factory disruptions across major industrial areas. The decision was announced on Sunday by the country's Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury. The government has urged workers to return to their workplaces while the newly formed board examines their wage demands. **Workers Demand Higher Monthly Salaries** Garment workers across Bangladesh have been demanding a minimum monthly salary of 30,000 taka, compared with the existing minimum wage of 12,500 taka. Workers say rising costs of food, housing, transportation and healthcare have increased financial pressure on their households. The demonstrations have taken place in several industrial areas, including Dhaka, Gazipur and Ashulia. **Factories Face Disruptions** The protests have affected garment manufacturing operations, with several factories temporarily suspending production. According to Reuters, around 25 to 30 factories were closed following the disruptions. Demonstrations also affected road traffic in some industrial areas, while clashes between protesters and police were reported. **Six-Member Wage Board Established** The government has established a six-member wage board to review the salary structure of garment workers. The board is expected to examine workers' demands and consider the financial and economic conditions of the garment industry. The government has appealed to workers and industry representatives to cooperate with the process. **Importance of Bangladesh's Garment Industry** The garment industry is one of Bangladesh's most important economic sectors. It employs approximately four million workers and contributes more than 80 per cent of the country's export earnings. The ongoing wage dispute has raised concerns about production schedules, international orders and the livelihoods of workers. The government's wage board is expected to play an important role in addressing the salary dispute and finding a way forward for the industry.