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round 13 per cent of surveyed garment workers in Bangladesh have yet to fully receive the enhanced minimum wage introduced under the last revised structure, with some receiving only partial increases and others none at all.
The government in 2023 set Tk 12,500 as the minimum monthly wage for entry-level garment workers, effective from January 2024.
"About 87 per cent of the surveyed workers receive the enhanced minimum wage fully, as revised two years ago," said Prof Jakir Hossain of the Institute of Bangladesh Studies at the University of Rajshahi.
Of the remaining 13 per cent, some 8.0 per cent received a partial increase, while 5.0 per cent did not receive wages according to the new revised grade, he added.
Prof Hossain shared these findings during the dissemination of a study titled "Minimum Wage Implementation in Bangladesh's Readymade Garment Sector: Status of Compliance and Consequences for Workers" at an event on Sunday in a city hotel.
The survey, conducted in May and June 2025, covered 240 workers from 60 factories in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chattogram. It included knit, woven, and composite factories, which Prof Hossain termed a representative sample.
The event was organised by Awaj Foundation, supported by Mondiaal FNV, and moderated by Awaj Foundation executive director Nazma Akter. Former labour secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman, labour joint secretary Md Abdus Samad Al Azad, and AKM Nasim, country programme director of Solidarity Centre Bangladesh, also spoke.
Prof Hossain noted that implementation rates of the enhanced wage were higher in factories with trade unions and compliant units.
The study also highlighted challenges faced by workers after the new wage structure: 31 per cent reported delays in overtime pay ranging from one to ten months; 52 per cent cited increased workload and production pressure; 22 per cent reported job insecurity; 14 per cent experienced irregular wage payment; and 11 per cent were confused about proper grade placement and promotion.
Some 14 per cent of workers were unaware of the 9.0 per cent annual increment implemented from January 2025, while two-thirds reported its implementation and 13 per cent did not.
Speaking at the event, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan refrained from commenting on the 13 per cent non-compliance, saying the report did not specify whether the units were BGMEA members, BKMEA members, or others.
He, however, claimed that workers in export-oriented factories receive Tk 22,000 to Tk 25,000 monthly.
The BGMEA also urged for annual wage revisions to avoid sharp five-year wage hikes of 60-90 per cent and labour unrest.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) president Mohammad Hatem stated that all factories implemented the last wage hike, though some may have applied it partially.
He added that monitoring non-member factories - including minimum wage compliance and safety - falls under the government's responsibility.
International Labour Organization (ILO) Bangladesh programme manager Neeran Ramjuthan described non-compliance as a "deep concern," noting that timely and full wage payment is a fundamental right essential for workers' livelihoods and social stability.
He warned that wage non-payment poses reputational risks for both the country and the sector.
Industriall Bangladesh Council general secretary Babul Akhter criticised factory owners for setting grades arbitrarily in the absence of clear government guidelines, depriving workers of legally mandated wage hikes.
Responding to concerns over factory closures, he said small factories are exiting the market, while larger ones continue to expand, boosting production and annual export earnings.
munni_fe@yahoo.com