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IBC seeks reconstitution of wage board by Sept 30

Published : Saturday, 19 September, 2026 at 4:06 PM

Observer online report

The Industrial Bangladesh Council (IBC) has demanded that the wage board for garment workers be reconstituted by September 30 to set a new minimum wage.

The organisation also called for announcing the new minimum wage by November and implementing it from December so that workers can receive the increased wages with their December salary in the first week of January 2027.

The demands were made at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital on Saturday.

IBC General Secretary Salauddin Swapan read out the organisation's written statement.

The organisation said the latest minimum wage for garment workers was set at Tk 12,500 in November 2023. Amendments to the Labour Act reduced the interval for revising wages from five years to three years.

Although the deadline for setting a new wage is approaching, no visible initiative has yet been taken to reconstitute the wage board, IBC said.

It said the wage board is required to submit a proposal for a new wage structure to the government within the stipulated timeframe after its formation. Any delay in forming the board could therefore hold up the entire process.

IBC said it sent a letter to the labour minister on August 4 demanding the immediate reconstitution of the wage board, but no effective initiative has been taken so far.

According to IBC data, the minimum wage for garment workers was Tk 1,662.50 in 2006, Tk 3,000 in 2010, Tk 5,300 in 2013, Tk 8,000 in 2018 and Tk 12,500 in 2023.

IBC said that although wages have increased, housing costs, medical expenses and prices of essential goods have also risen. As a result, workers are finding it difficult to maintain their livelihoods on the current wage.

The organisation said a team is reviewing what the minimum wage for garment workers should be this time. It will submit a proposal to the government after completing the review and make it public through the media.

IBC also announced a programme to press for its demands. It plans to hold a rally and procession in front of the National Press Club on October 4 and submit a memorandum to the labour minister.

From October 5 to 20, the organisation will hold rallies and protest processions in Gazipur, Savar-Ashulia, Narayanganj and Chattogram.

IBC President Mir Abul Kalam Azad, Senior Vice-President Amirul Haque Amin, Vice-President China Rahman and leaders from different levels of the organisation were present at the press conference.

sks

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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