Close on heels of a section of garment workers demanding increase in wage in view of the increasing price of daily essentials,pressure is building up on the garment makers even if a section of factory owners and labour leaders are smelling conspiracy behind the sudden labour unrest demanding a pay raise.
Media reports maintained this adding some labour leaders have, reportedly, underlined that the movement for a pay hike may spread to other industrialised areas of Bangladesh soon, even as Industry All Bangladesh Council, a platform of one of the most influential labour federations in Bangladesh, has, reportedly, written to the Bangladesh Government twice demanding increase in wages for garment workers.
“Inflation has increased, true, so has worker wages,” reportedly, underlined Managing Director of Sparrow Group Shovon Islam, speaking to the media while adding that it would be difficult for the garment makers to take pressure of increased wages more so when price of apparel items is not increasing keeping with the production cost.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of Narayanganj-based Fatullah Apparel, Fazlee Shamim Eshan, on his part, reportedly, underlined at a time when commodity prices were rising, demand for wage hike was reasonable but added garment factory owners cannot take the pressure of further wage hike, while adding of late order flow has also decreased on account of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
“It is the responsibility of the Government to support the low-earners. They need to be provided food at subsidised rates,” reportedly, claimed Fazlee Shamim Eshan.
It may be mentioned here the last wage hike of the garment workers was in 2018.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
