Bangladesh garment worker unions are urging the government to immediately reconstitute the Minimum Wage Board, warning that delays could prevent a revised pay structure from taking effect by the end of 2026.
The demand comes as the country’s apparel industry faces growing pressure to balance global competitiveness with rising living costs and increasing scrutiny from international buyers over labour standards.
The Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2026, published in April, reduced the statutory wage-review cycle from five years to three years. Labour groups say the change makes it essential for the government to begin the review process without delay.
The current minimum monthly wage for entry-level garment workers is Tk12,500, established in December 2023. Unions argue that the amount no longer adequately reflects the cost of food, housing, healthcare and other basic necessities amid persistent inflation.
The IndustriALL Bangladesh Council, Asia Floor Wage Alliance Bangladesh Committee and other labour organisations have called for a new wage board with stronger representation from independent trade unions. They are also demanding that any revised wage be based on current inflation, living costs and workers’ basic needs.
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Labour groups say the wage-review process involves several stages, including formation of the board, collection of economic data, stakeholder consultations, hearings and final recommendations. Starting the process late could therefore make it difficult to complete the review within the required timeframe.
The Asia Floor Wage Alliance has also called for immediate action, saying the existing minimum wage is insufficient to provide garment workers with a decent standard of living. The group submitted letters to government authorities following a workers’ rally in Dhaka on Aug. 11.
Beyond wages, unions are seeking stronger enforcement of statutory wage structures, job security, workplace safety, occupational health protections, maternity benefits and wider social protection.
The wage debate also carries implications for Bangladesh’s apparel exporters. The garment sector is the country’s largest export industry and depends heavily on international brands and retailers, many of which are placing greater emphasis on responsible sourcing and social compliance.
Manufacturers, meanwhile, face rising production costs and intense competition from other apparel-producing countries. Any wage increase could therefore add pressure to factory margins, particularly for suppliers operating on tight buyer-set prices.
Labour advocates have called on international brands and buyers to support responsible purchasing practices and fairer prices so that higher worker wages can be absorbed without undermining factory viability.
For Bangladesh, a timely wage review could help reduce labour tensions while strengthening the industry’s social-compliance credentials. Unions say the government must act quickly to ensure the revised three-year review cycle produces a meaningful wage adjustment rather than another delay.