Dhaka, Nov. 6 -- Bangladesh's garment industry is showing signs of recovery after several days of labour unrest, with workers returning to factories and production resuming in several industrial centres, although tensions persist in the key industrial hubs of Ashulia and Savar, according to local media reports.
Factories in Gazipur, Narayanganj and Dhaka's Mirpur area largely resumed operations on Thursday, as workers responded to the government's move to set up a wage board to review their pay.
However, demonstrations continued in parts of Ashulia and Savar, where more than 100 factories declared holidays as a precaution amid fears of further violence, according to The Daily Star.
Workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka (USD 241), more than double the existing 12,500 taka.
The unrest has raised concerns about disruptions to Bangladesh's crucial garment industry, which employs around four million people and accounts for more than 80 per cent of the country's export earnings.
The country is the world's second-largest garment exporter after China and supplies major international clothing brands.
Workers say their wages have failed to keep pace with rising living costs, particularly food, housing, cooking gas and transport. The government formed a six-member wage board on November 1 following the protests.
The board held its first meeting on Wednesday and agreed to introduce a revised wage structure from December.
Workers are expected to receive their first salaries under the new structure in January 2027.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.