Tens of thousands of workers are demanding their monthly minimum wage increase from 12,500 taka to 30,000 taka as annual inflation reached 8.34 percent in September. Demonstrations have shut down hundreds of factories, leading to police firing tear gas and stun grenades during clashes on blocked highways. Although authorities formed a six-member review board, employees continue to protest because officials failed to commit to specific wage numbers or a clear timeline. The apparel industry is vital to Bangladesh, having brought in $39 billion in the last financial year.
Key points
Bangladesh's garment industry is facing massive disruptions that threaten an export secto…: Bangladesh's garment industry is facing massive disruptions that threaten an export sector responsible for over 80 percent of national earnings.
Government plans to form a six-member wage board failed to halt protests due to an absenc…: Government plans to form a six-member wage board failed to halt protests due to an absence of firm wage commitments.
The country maintains some of the world's lowest apparel wages despite employing approxim…: The country maintains some of the world's lowest apparel wages despite employing approximately four million people in clothing factories.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Tens of thousands of workers in the world’s second-largest apparel exporter after China have hit the streets to demand better minimum wages.
Dhaka, Bangladesh – Laili Begum can no longer afford to keep her two children in school. There are days when the 37-year-old garment worker struggles to put even one proper meal on the table.
An experienced sewing operator at Virtual Bottoms Limited, a ready-made garments factory near Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, Begum earns around 15,000 taka ($121) a month, which sometimes rises to 18,000–20,000 taka ($145–$161) when she works overtime.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 items- list 1 of 4Bangladesh garment factories disrupted as protests continue for third day
- list 2 of 4Bangladesh forms wage board as garment workers protest
- list 3 of 4Bangladesh garment exporters fear $1bn losses after huge airport fire
- list 4 of 4Bangladesh per capita GDP forecast to outstrip India’s: What does it mean?
Her 15-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son dropped out of school earlier this year because she could not afford their education.
Founded in 2010 by two sisters, the Bukit Merah practice built a distinct reputation by caring for exotic animals, including frogs and reptiles, alongside standard domestic pets. Escalating business expenses and persistent staffing hurdles ultimately forced management to wind down operations, prompting the team to organize client transitions and record transfers ahead of a December shutdown. Pet owners responded with widespread sorrow, lamenting the loss of an affordable, compassionate community fixture.
Lufthansa's third-quarter financial results have met market expectations. The airline's performance during the period was weighed down by high jet fuel costs.
Coordinating Minister Bahlil Lahadalia affirmed that cross-border energy sales will only proceed if prospective buyer countries accept Jakarta-set pricing and offer mutually beneficial terms. The stance places domestic energy security ahead of international power trades, directly affecting regional decarbonisation initiatives. Furthermore, the sovereign wealth fund Danantara has been urged to withstand external lobbying aimed at discounting calculated energy export rates.