Bangladesh garment factories reopen as wage protests continue
Manufacturers remain concerned about further unrest after workers demanded a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka.
Garment factories in Bangladesh reopened on Monday, November 2, 2026, following widespread closures and production disruptions the previous day, according to The Hindu. The ready-made garment sector is a major part of the economy, employing about 4 million workers and contributing around 10 per cent to the gross domestic product.
The unrest involves workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka ($243), an increase from the current levels of approximately 12,500 to 13,000 taka ($106). On Sunday, November 1, the government formed a six-member minimum wage board comprising government, worker, and factory owner representatives to review the demand.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) stated that the protests affected nearly 1 million workers and caused disruptions at 529 factories. BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan said that if further protests force factory closures, the industry will invoke the 'no work, no pay' provision.
Labour minister Ariful Haque Choudhury said at a news conference in Dhaka that the government has been discussing the issue with labour leaders and owners for three days. He alleged that a group seeking to destabilise the government has been exploiting workers.
Babul Akhter, general secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, said that garment wages in the country are among the lowest globally. Meanwhile, Kalpona Akhter of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity noted that the demand for 30,000 taka considers inflation and the rising cost of living.
