Dhaka:The government has established a six-member wage board to reassess the minimum wage structure for garment workers in response to widespread protests in industrial regions, including Dhaka and Gazipur. These protests have been driven by demands for a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury announced the board's formation at a press briefing on Sunday, urging workers to return to their jobs rather than continue demonstrations. The ministry also issued gazette notifications regarding the board's establishment on the same day.
The wage board, created under Section 138 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 (amended in 2026), is tasked with determining the minimum wage for garment industry workers, as outlined in Section 139 of the law. Senior District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Ashfakur Rahman has been appointed as the chairman of the board, while Prof Dr. Mosleh Uddin Ahmed from Dhaka University will serve as the neutral member.
The board also includes general representatives Asif Ayub from the Bangladesh Employers Federation as the employers' representative, and Anwar Hossain from the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal representing the workers. Additional representatives from the garment industry include ABM Shamsuddin of the BGMEA for employers and Babul Akhtar of the BGIWF for workers.
Protests have led to road blockages in key areas, including the Mirpur-10 intersection in Dhaka and parts of the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Gazipur, causing significant traffic disruptions. Clashes between workers and police in Gazipur resulted in the closure of most factories in the affected zones.