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Wage board to hold inaugural meeting
Addressing garment worker demands is the prime concern
Published : Wednesday, 4 November, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Observer Online Report
Symbolic Photo
The newly formed wage board holds its inaugural meeting on Wednesday (November 4) at 11:00 AM to address longstanding wage disputes, as the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector faces mounting pressure from worker unrest, wage hike demands, and repeated factory closures.
The six-member wage board commenced formal operations following the announcement made on Sunday (November 1) by Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury during a press briefing at the secretariat, backed by two separate gazette notifications issued by the ministry.
Discussions during the opening session focused on evaluating worker demands, employer capacity, and current industrial conditions to determine future steps. Garment workers have been demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000, up from the current entry-level wage of Tk 1,2005, arguing that prevailing rates fail to cover escalating living expenses, house rent, transport, and commodity prices.
Despite the formation of the board, protests have persisted across major industrial hubs including Dhaka, Mirpur, Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur, leading to street blockades, clashes with law enforcement, and localized factory closures.
According to BGMEA data from November 1, production disruptions affected 529 factories across five industrial belts, with roughly 987,000 workers walking off the job. Demonstrations and factory shutdowns continued into Wednesday.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan stated that the association urged authorities to convene the wage board meeting as quickly as possible and expressed optimism. He noted that efforts are underway to keep factories operational while appealing to workers to refrain from vandalism and protests in the interest of both the industry and the workforce.
Meanwhile, worker representatives are pressing for a swift announcement of the new wage structure alongside a clear timeline for implementation, with discussions pointing toward a potential effective date of December 1 under revised labor laws.
Analysts note that the board faces the complex challenge of balancing workers' financial needs against industry manufacturing capacity and international market competitiveness, making today's meeting a crucial milestone in resolving the ongoing crisis.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, 01550707296
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