Back to Work: Garment Factories Resume Production in Gazipur
After several days of labour unrest, garment production has resumed across almost all factories in Gazipur. Workers returned to their workplaces on Thursday morning as police maintained heightened security across industrial areas.
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In a Nutshell
- Almost all garment factories in Gazipur resumed production on November 5, with workers returning following days of protests over wages.
- Factories that had announced sudden holidays on Wednesday also reopened, with workers seen entering workplaces in areas including Bhogra, Naojor, Board Bazar and Signboard.
- Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Amjad Hossain said 99.99% of garment factories in the district were operational by Thursday morning, with no fresh reports of labour unrest by 9:00am.
- Libas Garment Factory on Joydebpur-Shibbari Road remained closed. Additional police personnel were deployed at Joydebpur Chowrasta and other key locations to maintain law and order.
- Traffic on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways returned to normal.
Context
Garment workers began protesting on November 1, demanding an increase in the minimum monthly wage from Tk 12,500 to Tk 30,000. The demonstrations disrupted factory operations, prompting several establishments to suspend work. Amid the unrest, the government formed a six-member minimum wage board on the same day. The board held its first meeting on November 4 to discuss a revised wage structure.
Why It Matters
Bangladesh’s garment industry is a major source of export earnings and employment, making its stability vital to the national economy and millions of livelihoods. The resumption of production offers some relief after days of disruption, but the underlying wage dispute remains unresolved. For workers, the outcome of the wage review directly affects their ability to cope with rising living expenses. Meanwhile, a stable garment sector is essential for businesses, factory operations and the country’s export performance. The proposed wage revision is expected to take effect in December, with workers receiving their first salaries under the new structure in January 2027.
What We Think
The resumption of factory operations marks a pause in the unrest, but the wage dispute remains unresolved. While the revised wage structure is expected to take effect in December, the amount workers will receive remains uncertain. Negotiations over the Tk 30,000 monthly wage demand will be a key part of the review, particularly in light of the 2023 revision, which resulted in a wage increase that remained below workers’ expectations. The outcome of the current review will therefore be important in determining whether workers’ demands receive greater consideration while maintaining the garment industry’s economic stability.