Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Workers' representative on the Minimum Wage Board has proposed BDT 32,000 as the minimum monthly wage for entry-level garment workers, while employers sought four more days to submit their proposal.
At the board's second meeting, held in Dhaka on Monday and chaired by Chairman Syed Azad Subhani, workers' representative Babul Akhter presented the proposal. The employers had sought seven days, but the board granted them four days.
The proposed wage package includes BDT 19,200 as basic pay, BDT 9,600 as house rent (50 per cent of basic pay) and BDT 3,200 as other allowances covering medical, transport and food expenses.
The workers' side also proposed BDT 30,000 for apprentice workers, including BDT 9,000 as basic pay.
The last wage revision took place in November 2025, raising the minimum monthly wage to BDT 12,500 from BDT 8,000, effective December that year.
Recent amendments to the labour law have shortened the wage revision cycle to three years from five.
The minimum monthly wage for garment workers was BDT 1,662.50 in 2006, rising to BDT 3,000 in 2010, BDT 5,300 in 2013, BDT 8,000 in 2018 and BDT 12,500 in 2023.
BBN/SSR/AD