DHAKA: Bangladesh raised the minimum mont­hly pay for the country’s four million garment workers by 56.25 per cent on Tuesday, a decision immediately rejected by unions seeking a near-tripling of the figure.

The South Asian country’s 3,500 garment factories account for around 85pc of its $55 billion in annual exports, supplying many of the world’s top fashion names including Levi’s, Zara and H&M.

But conditions are dire for many of the sector’s four million workers, the vast majority of whom are women whose monthly pay starts at 8,300 taka ($75).

Workers have gone on strike to demand a near-tripling of their wages, with violent scenes in recent days, while employers offered 25pc. The minimum wage is fixed by a state-appointed board that includes representatives from the manufacturers, unions and wage experts.

“The new minimum monthly wage for garment factory workers has been fixed at 12,500 taka ($113),” Raisha Afroz, the board secretary, said.

The figure was immediately rejected by unions, which have been demanding a 23,000 taka minimum.

Unions say their members have been hard hit by persistent inflation, which in October reached nearly 10pc.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2023