Dhaka (AFP) - The wage negotiation board of Bangladesh's textile industry announced on Wednesday an agreement to increase the minimum wage for workers in this key export sector, after five days of protests.

First modification: 04/11/2026 - 13:29

Thousands of textile workers have protested since Saturday demanding wage increases, throwing bricks and setting up barricades. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

"We will complete our work in December so that the workers receive their salary increases in January," said ABM Shamsuddin, representative of the textile businessmen on the board.

"We agreed on this point. We are working together," agreed Babul Akter, a workers' representative.

The Southeast Asian country of 170 million inhabitants is the world's second largest exporter of textiles, behind China, with production for major international brands.

The sector generates 80% of Bangladesh's income from exports, with about 38,888 million dollars, and employs more than 4 million people.

Workers make clothing for brands such as Fruit of the Loom and Levi Strauss and VF Corp, which includes brands such as Vans, Timberland and The North Face.

According to workers, increases in food, housing, transportation and health prices have eroded their purchasing capacity.

They demanded a minimum monthly salary of 30,000 taka ($240), 140% more than the current 12,500 taka.

The board, which brings together businessmen and workers, was created on Sunday by the government to negotiate salaries. He did not specify the magnitude of the agreed increase.

© 2026 AFP

The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.