RMG wage protests enter fourth day: 306 factories shut as workers demand Tk 30,000 minimum wage

Garment workers demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 30,000 — up from the current Tk 12,500 set in December 2023 — continued their protests for a fourth consecutive day on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Citing BGMEA figures, reports said production was halted at 306 factories by 11 AM, affecting around 700,000 workers. Of BGMEA's 2,134 member factories, 1,828 remained operational. The affected areas include Gazipur and Mymensingh (161 factories, about 429,000 workers), Ashulia and Jirani in Savar (93), and Mirpur in Dhaka (52). The protests have seen clashes with police and road blockades, with 12 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh deployed. On Monday, the figure was higher — nearly 690 factories closed and around 1.69 million workers affected. The government has formed a six-member minimum wage board, though no wage amount or timeline has been fixed. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met the home affairs and labour ministers on 1 November to discuss the unrest. Workers cite rising living costs, while owners point to falling orders, stagnant buyer prices, and rising raw material costs. The unrest coincides with the peak order season (October–February), when manufacturers secure roughly 40% of annual orders. RMG accounts for over 80% of Bangladesh's export earnings, about 10% of GDP, and employs around 4 million workers. EPB data showed exports to the US rose 11.5% to $3.35 billion in July–October of FY27. The UN General Assembly has extended Bangladesh's LDC graduation preparatory period to 24 November 2029.