Bangladesh, Oct. 7 -- The government has decided in principle to form a new Minimum Wage Board to review wages for millions of workers in Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) sector, winning the backing of major apparel industry bodies amid mounting pressure from trade unions.

The decision followed a high-level meeting last week between Labour Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, Labour Secretary Abdur Rahman Tarafder, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Mohammad Hatem, sources said.

When asked, Labour Secretary Abdur Rahman Tarafder confirmed that official letters would soon be issued to factory owne...