Dhaka, 1 November 2026 – The Bangladesh government announced on Sunday the creation of a six‑member wage board tasked with reviewing the minimum wage for garment‑industry workers.
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury unveiled the board at a press briefing, urging protesting workers to return to their jobs and assuring that the board will consider a fair wage increase.
The board is constituted under Section 138 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 (amended 2026), with a mandate under Section 139 to determine the sector’s minimum wage.
Senior District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Ashfakur Rahman will chair the board, while Prof Dr Mosleh Uddin Ahmed of Dhaka University serves as the neutral member.
Employer representation includes Asif Ayub of the Bangladesh Employers Federation and ABM Shamsuddin, a director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. Worker representation features Anwar Hossain of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, Babul Akhtar of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, and additional members from the sector.
The move comes as garment workers across Dhaka, Gazipur and other industrial zones have staged demonstrations, blocking key intersections and demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000.
Clashes between workers and police in Gazipur led authorities to shut most factories in the affected areas, heightening concerns over production disruptions.
The wage board is expected to submit its recommendations in the coming weeks, aiming to balance workers’ demands with the sector’s competitiveness.
Why it matters
Setting a higher garment wage is crucial for improving workers' livelihoods and stabilising Bangladesh's key export industry.