The Ministry of Labour and Employment issued a gazette notification on August 14, 2026 and has invited recommendations and objections from the public and industry stakeholders within 14 days of the gazette’s publication.

Bangladesh’s Minimum Wage Board has proposed a minimum monthly wage of Tk 11,900 (~$96.9) for entry level workers in the country’s leather goods and footwear factories.

Under the proposed wage structure an entry level worker at Grade 6 would receive Tk 11,900 (~$96.9) per month. This includes Tk 6,000 (~$48.8) in basic pay, house rent equivalent to 50% of the basic salary, Tk 1,000 (~$8.14) as medical allowance, Tk 600 (~$4.89) as transport allowance and Tk 1,300 (~$10.5) as food allowance.

The proposed minimum monthly wage increases with each grade. Workers at Grade 5 would receive Tk 13,085 (~$106.5) while Grade 4 workers would receive Tk 14,405 (~$117.3).

For higher grades the proposed monthly wages are Tk 15,875 (~$129.28) for Grade 3, Tk 17,945 (~$146.15) for Grade 2 and Tk 23,255 (~$189.39) for Grade 1.

For employees the proposed minimum monthly wage starts at Tk 14,405 (~$117.32) for Grade 4 with a basic salary of Tk 7,670 (~$62.46).

Employees at Grade 3 would receive Tk 16,235 (~$132.23) while the proposed wages for Grades 2 and 1 are Tk 18,815 (~$153.23) and Tk 20,600 (~$167.77) respectively.

The wage board has also proposed a monthly wage of Tk 10,000 (~$81.4) for apprentice workers and employees.

The government formed the Minimum Wage Board on February 2 with representatives of workers and employers to review wages in Bangladesh’s leather goods and footwear sector.

The sector’s minimum wages were last reviewed in 2020, when the minimum monthly wage was set at Tk 7,100 for workers and Tk 8,525 for employees.

The latest proposal is now open for recommendations and objections from the public and industry stakeholders within the specified 14 day period.

Note: USD equivalents calculated by Leathernews.org using 1 USD = Tk 122.79.