Fresh Bangladesh garment worker protests force factory closures over wages

Labor unrest struck Bangladesh's garment industry as fresh protests and wage demands led to dozens of factory closures. Demonstrators gathered in Gazipur's Konabari and Mouchak areas, leading police to deploy tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowds. Factory owners confirmed that 50 units within the industrial zone were shut down, with 13 closed indefinitely and five declaring a one-day holiday.

This disruption coincides with weeks of demonstrations over workers' calls to raise the minimum monthly wage from 12,500 taka to 30,000 taka. Protesters argue that current earnings fail to cover the soaring costs of food, housing, transport, and healthcare. Law enforcement agencies, including Border Guard Bangladesh and the elite Special Response Battalion, have deployed personnel across key industrial zones to maintain order.

Wage protests in Bangladesh have shut dozens of garment factories ahead of a crucial pay board meeting.

The government previously established a Minimum Wage Board to recommend a revised pay structure, with officials aiming to finalize recommendations by the end of November. The updated scale is expected to take effect from December 1, allowing workers to receive their first salaries under the new structure in January. While production has continued at most facilities, factory owners and trade associations warn that prolonged disruptions during peak production seasons could harm global supply chains.

Why it matters

As the world's second-largest garment exporter, Bangladesh supplies major international fashion brands like H&M, Zara, and Gap. The sector employs over four million workers and drives more than 80 percent of the nation's export earnings, making supply chain stability vital for regional and global trade.