Thirty-five labour federations belonging to four alliances have demanded that the minimum monthly wage for garment workers be set at Tk 37,125, or $300. They also called for a new minimum wage board for the three years from 2026 to 2029, with genuine workers’ representatives as members.
The demand was made at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium in Segunbagicha on Monday, October 26. Speakers called for a minimum wage board for the garment industry and a new wage structure in line with the cost of living and the pay scale.
Shah Md Abu Zafar, a senior leader of the Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Jote, presided, and Khalekuzzaman Lipon, one of its leaders, read out the written statement.
The press conference was told that a new three-year wage structure has been proposed for 2026 to 2029. It would reorganise the old grades into four, with a house rent allowance of 50 percent of basic pay, medical, transport, food and education allowances, and a 15 percent annual increment.
Under the proposal, Grade 1 workers would get basic pay of Tk 35,000 and a total of Tk 58,500 with allowances.
Grade 2 would get basic pay of Tk 30,000 and a total of Tk 51,000.
Grade 3 would get basic pay of Tk 25,000 and a total of Tk 43,500. The lowest, Grade 4, would get basic pay of Tk 20,750 and a total of Tk 37,125 with allowances.
Speakers said a garment worker needs about 2,800 to 3,000 kilocalories of energy a day.
Daily food costs, including rice, lentils, oil, eggs, fish, vegetables and cooking, come to about Tk 296.50, they said. The minimum food bill for a family of four is about Tk 35,580 a month.
The labour leaders said that, according to nutritionists, a balanced diet must contain vitamins and minerals as well as carbohydrates, fat and protein, and nutritious food for a family of four costs even more. On that basis, they said, the minimum wage for garment workers should in no case be below Tk 37,125, or $300.
Nahidul Islam Nayan moderated the press conference. Veteran labour leader Abul Hossain, Naimul Ahsan Jewel, Lovely Yasmin and Bachchu Mia were among the other speakers.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report