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Dhaka, Bangladesh. Top Bangladeshi unions said on Wednesday that millions of garment workers would accept an 80 percent increase in their minimum wage, raising hopes of an end to months of violent protests.

The government said it would raise the minimum wage from 1,662 taka ($24) a month, the lowest industry salary worldwide, to 3,000 taka — below the 5,000 taka some unions had been holding out for.

“A majority of unions have welcomed the wage board decision,” said Shamsun Nahar Bhuiyan, a union representative who sat on an emergency wage board looking into the issue.

“We feel that we have scored a victory. Obviously we would have liked more, but we are aware of the realities and we don’t want to destroy Bangladesh’s competitiveness,” she said.

Nearly a dozen left-leaning unions, none of whom had representatives on the wage board, organized a protest in Dhaka on Wednesday, but the demonstration’s turnout was low.

For months, Bangladesh’s workers have taken to the streets for raucous protests that have seen factories ransacked and clashes with police.

On June 22, hundreds of thousands of workers closed the key Ashulia export area, which produces for brands such as Wal-Mart, H&M and Marks & Spencer, a major blow for an industry aiming to steal contracts from Chinese competitors.

Garment manufacturers, who have so far staunchly resisted any significant wage increase, were on Wednesday locked in an emergency meeting to discuss the pay hike.

The previous minimum wage of 1,662 taka was set in 2006 after months of violent street protests.

The powerful industry, which last year accounted for 80 percent of Bangladesh’s total exports, says implementation of the new pay deal should be delayed as it would affect the price of current orders.

The nation’s labor minister was expected to formally announce the wage hike today.

The garment industry enjoyed record sales last month, with Bangladesh shipping $1.72 billion of goods in June, the highest monthly exports in the country’s 40-year history.

Even though the government has guaranteed workers a salary increase, enforcement is likely to pose a challenge

A quarter of Bangladesh’s garment factories do not comply with mandatory standards on pay, working hours and conditions, Commerce Ministry spokesman Faizul Haque said.


Agence France-Presse