Bangladesh government on December 10th announced a new minimum wage for over 480,000 workers in export processing zones (EPZs), a fortnight after it finalized a new pay structure for workers in the apparel sector, the largest export-oriented industry in the country.
Helpers in garment factories inside EPZs will get Tk12,800 as minimum wage from the current month, 56% higher than the Tk8,200 set five years ago, according to a notification published by the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA). The amount is 2.4%, or Tk 300, higher than the Tk12,SOO minimum wage set for garment workers in factories outside EPZs, finalized on November 26 following protests.
As per the notification, senior operators in garment factories in EPZs will see their minimum wage go up by 52% to TklS,200. High-skilled workers will see their wages rise by 20%.
BEPZA formed a board to fix the minimum wage of employees in EPZs last month, five years after the previous wage board was formed in 2018.
In its notification, BEPZA said the board considered proposals from representatives of owners and workers in view of current issues such as volatile global trade, geopolitical tensions, reduced export orders and increased cost of raw materials as well as spiraling costs of essentials.
BEPZA also published the lowest wage for workers in sectors apart from garments, namely electronics and electrical goods, automobile and auto parts, textiles and chemicals, agro-based industries as well as terry towel and sweater factories.
