Hundreds of garment factories in Bangladesh closed on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, as workers launched mass strikes across major industrial zones.
Protesters in Gazipur, Ashulia, and Savar arrived at their workplaces but refused to work, according to AFP. While workers attempted to take to the streets to demonstrate, police barricades blocked their movement, CNBC Indonesia reported.
The unrest, which began in October, threatens a garment industry valued at US$38 miliar per year. This sector accounts for four-fifths of the country’s total export earnings and employs more than four million people.
“Disruption harms everyone. Businesses lose money, workers lose working days, the economy is hit, and the damage is hard to repair,” said Mohiuddin Rubel, former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
The garment wage board reached an agreement on Nov. 4 to raise the minimum wage following days of protests, CNBC Indonesia reported. While the deal initially restored normal operations, the specific amount of the increase will not be announced until December and will not take effect until January.
This delay has created uncertainty for the workforce. Workers are currently demanding a monthly minimum wage of 30,000 taka, or approximately US$240 (Rp4,3 juta). This demand represents a 140% increase from the current minimum wage of 12,500 taka (about Rp1,8 juta).
Did you know? Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest garment exporter, trailing only China in supplying international fashion brands.
The BGMEA, which oversees 4,500 member factories, held an emergency meeting on Wednesday to address the escalating crisis. Factory owners are now seriously considering a “no work, no pay” policy to respond to the shutdowns, CNBC Indonesia reported.
More than 100 garment factories were forcibly closed on Wednesday, according to a BGMEA source. The association and the wage board have expressed opposition to the continued pressure from strike actions.
“Negotiations at the wage board and riots at the factory cannot take place simultaneously,” Mahmudul Hasan, president of the BGMEA, told the local newspaper Prothom Alo.
| Wage Status | Taka Amount | USD Equivalent (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Minimum Wage | 12,500 taka | US$240 |
| Worker Demand | 30,000 taka | US$240 |
The new minimum wage is scheduled to become effective in January. The specific nominal amount is expected to be announced in December.
Workers are protesting for a minimum wage increase, demanding a jump from 12,500 taka to 30,000 taka per month. They are also seeking clarity on the specific figures agreed upon by the wage board on Nov. 4.
The protests and subsequent factory closures have been concentrated in the major industrial zones of Gazipur, Ashulia, and Savar.
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