The Rana Plaza building collapse on April 24, 2013 drew the world’s attention to the RMG industry in Bangladesh. Global media outlets, international stakeholders and human rights groups, but also worker rights and human rights groups inside Bangladesh, increased their pressure, demanding change and improvement in the country’s largest industry. One of the consequences of the disaster and the subsequent increase of tension and unrest was the government’s decision to increase the legal minimum wage for RMG workers, which had not been adjusted since 2010, despite strong increases of basic living costs and high inflation rates.

On December 5, 2013, the government of Bangladesh issued the “Gazette on Minimum Wages 2013”, which defines a new wage structure for the RMG industry with an increase of gross monthly minimum wage from BDT 3,000 to BDT 5,300 (77%). The new wage structure was put into effect legally on January 1, 2014.

Concerns remain, however, in regard to the implementation of the new wage structure in Bangladesh’s RMG industry. Stakeholders, human rights and worker rights groups claim that the RMG sector has so far not succeeded in fully implementing the new wage structure. Statements in regard to the share of factories that have implemented the new wage structure vary from 87% (according to employer organization BGMEA) and 40% (according to local trade unions).

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The first Workers’ Voice report is the direct result of a large-scale survey based on individual face-to-face interviews with over 1,200 Bangladeshi garment workers from more than 250 different factories. The interviews were conducted between June 2012 and April 2013 by the staff of AWAJ Foundation.

This survey is unique, both because of its size in respect to participants as well as its scope in regard to subject matter. In contrast to many other research projects in this field, Workers’ Voice does not limit itself to a specific aspect but takes a comprehensive approach. It attempts to establish a kaleidoscopic insight into the life of garment workers, those who are the pulse of this important and thriving industry. Workers’ Voice recognizes the worker as a human being and not merely as a necessary element of the RMG production process. Therefore, much space was provided within the survey to capture the workers’ perceptions, feelings, plans and aspirations.

Workers’ Voice represents the collaboration of three different organizations connected by their commitment to facilitate the development of a just and sustainable RMG industry in Bangladesh. Workers’ Voice is a true multi-stakeholder endeavour comprising a Bangladeshi NGO dedicated to the fight for workers’ rights, a local think-tank and watchdog of Bangladesh’s labour issues, and a Hong Kong based CSR consultancy with many years of experience in the global apparel business.


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With Bangladesh' garment industry earning 80% of the country's total imports, the living wage of this industry's workers has been the focal point of an ongoing and heated debate. The many clashes that have occurred between angry workers and factory owners from 2006 until present, reiterate the fact that the new minimum wage set at BDT 3,000 per month still does not allow for a minimum standard life. In the RMG sector there are many different opinions about what the minimum living wage should be, while none are universally accepted. Therefore, this report investigates whether Bangladesh' present minimum wage is sufficient for garment workers to lead a minimum standard life. The actual amount will vary across the country, from place to place, as a living wage considers what is sufficient to fulfil the minimum basic demands of life.

In doing so, four different calculations were applied to five different areas in Bangladesh in order to calculate the living wage, including the internationally accepted Social Accountability International (SAI) standard. Additionally, basic costs such as food-, home rent-, medical-, minimum-, education- and other necessary expenses were taken into account, through survey questionnaires. Based on these four calculation methods, quite a large variation was identified in the appropriate living wages in the different areas. The lowest figure was identified in the Rangpur area where a living wage of BDT 4,433 is necessary. This is approximately 45% lower than that of Dhaka, where the highest living wage of BDT 8,114 was identified. The second highest living wage levels calculated are in Chittagong, while greater Dhaka (Narayanganj) had the lowest assessed living wage level.

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Production practices in Bangladesh and therefore also European textile companies are constantly facing public criticism. Working conditions within the supply chain are criticised. Arguments range from underpayment, child labour and discrimination to poor living and working conditions.

Over the last couple of years, Bangladesh has developed as a major site of the world's textile production. Agriculture and the ever-growing textile industry have begun to form the core employment sectors. However, Bangladesh is still one of the poorest developing countries in the world. According to the United Nation's Human Development Report 2010, Bangladesh is ranked 129th out of 169 countries worldwide. Every year, thousands of rural residents move into the area of the mega-city of Dhaka. Dhaka is already home to around 13 million people and according to United Nations projections, the city will have almost 17 million inhabitants in 2015. The increasing formation of slums is only one consequence. Approximately 40 percent of the city's population lives in slums. But the prospect of work continues to attract rural workers.

But how do the workers view their own situation? And what problems and needs do they express? Many of the claims and arguments in the dispute between stakeholders, media, NGOs and business are based on western values and a western world view. What is really important to the people in Bangladesh? And how do they really live in Dhaka? To obtain answers to those questions is not easy. Many adults, especially women, are illiterate. Official information can be obtained from few and not often credible sources.

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