Bangladesh garment factories reopen amid ongoing wage protests
Manufacturers express concern over potential unrest as workers demand a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka.
Garment factories in Bangladesh reopened on Monday, November 2, 2026, following widespread closures and production interruptions the previous day, according to The Hindu.
The ready-made garment sector employs approximately 4 million workers and contributes around 10 per cent to the country's gross domestic product. It also accounts for more than 80 per cent of Bangladesh's export earnings.
Workers have been demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka ($243), an increase from the current 12,500 taka. On Sunday, November 1, the government established a six-member minimum wage board to review this demand.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) stated that unrest across various cities impacted 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 use the 'no work, no pay' provision.
Babul Akhter, general secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, said that the country has some of the lowest garment wages globally. He stated that businesses cannot be built on the backs of underpaid workers.
Factory owners noted that the industry is facing rising costs, energy market uncertainty from conflict in West Asia, and declining demand in export markets. Industry representatives are scheduled to meet the Home Minister to discuss the situation.
