Hundreds of tannery workers at the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate, Bangladesh staged protests on 28th January 2025, demanding the immediate implementation of the government-declared minimum wage. The demonstration, organized by the Tannery Workers Union, took place near Apex Tannery from 10 AM to 12 PM, as workers voiced their frustration over delayed wage enforcement. They warned of escalated actions if their demands remain unmet.
The protesting workers highlighted that while other industries have promptly enforced the newly announced minimum wage, tannery owners have repeatedly delayed its implementation under various excuses. This delay, they claim, has left them in financial distress, making it difficult to afford basic living expenses.
“The government announced a structured minimum wage across five grades, with the lowest grade set at Tk18,000 (US$150). This decision was made with the agreement of all stakeholders, yet the tannery owners now claim they cannot afford to pay the revised wages.”
Nilufa, a member of the Tannery Workers Union and an employee at Apex Tannery, stated,
She further explained that current salaries range from Tk8,000 to Tk10,000, (US$65-85) which is insufficient to support a household.
Another protesting worker, Faruk Hossain, pointed out that the wage gazette was officially published on 21 November last year, but to date, the new wages have not been implemented. “We will continue our protests until our demands are met,” he asserted.
The union has been in continuous discussions with the tannery owners, but according to Abdul Malek, General Secretary of the Tannery Workers Union, these meetings have failed to yield results. “Despite repeated discussions, owners have not taken the necessary steps to enforce the wage increase,” Malek said.
When asked about the situation, Md Sakhawat Ullah, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA), stated that discussions are ongoing with all parties involved. “We are hopeful that a fair resolution can be reached through dialogue soon,” he said, though he did not provide a concrete timeline for wage enforcement.
The original news was published by The Business Standard
