We stand with workers and unions demanding that their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining are implemented, protected, and respected across the industry, including in export processing zones. These enabling rights must be effectively recognized for sustained and meaningful wage improvement.

The proposed minimum wage increase of 52% still leaves workers a long way from a decent wage. Our latest update estimates the monthly living wage for Dhaka City at BDT 25,497—double the current proposal. Accounting for inflation  and likely increases to rental prices and other costs, the proposed increase will be far less in real terms.

There is a clear role for supply chain partners to work collectively to support workers’ rights to a decent standard of living and to advance wages beyond legal minimum levels. The GLWC calls on industry and policy-makers to use the publicly available credible living wage estimates to take action toward closing living wage gaps for workers in the garment sector. Actions should include committing to pay workers the living wage differential, improving in-kind benefits that workers value, and implementing responsible sourcing practices such as supporting improved forecasting and planning, more transparent collaboration with suppliers, and adopting pricing strategies that ensure suppliers are able to pay decent wages to their workers.

Improved social security benefits and support would also help ensure workers can attain a decent standard of living. Both individual and collective accountability and actions are needed. Governments, consumers, brands/buyers, producers/suppliers, investors, and civil society all have roles to play in ensuring that garment workers are fairly treated and compensated. We encourage everyone, as we are all connected to or affected by the garment industry, to accept responsibility for their role in ensuring a decent standard of living for workers.

Relevant resources from GLWC members 

• Living Wage Update Report: Dhaka and Satellite Cities, Bangladesh, 2023
• Living Wage Benchmark Report: Dhaka and Satellite Cities, Bangladesh, 2016
• Fair Labor Association’s Bangladesh Wage Trends 2016 Report 
• Fair Labor Association’s Bangladesh Wage Trends 2020 Report published by the UN Global Compact
• Social Accountability International’s Responsible Purchasing Practices Guidance for Buyers
• Social Accountability International’s Mutual Buyer Supplier Code of Conduct

Photo credit: Crozet M. / ILO

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Read the new benchmark report: Rural Areas and Small Towns in Yucatan, Mexico

The post New Benchmark Report for Rural Areas and Small Towns in Yucatan, Mexico appeared first on Global Living Wage Coalition.

Photo credit: Allan Wadsworth

The GLWC is pleased to share a brand new Living Wage Benchmark report for Baja California, Mexico for the municipalities of Ensenada and San Quintín. The study, conducted in January 2021, includes living wage estimates that workers in the cities of both Ensenada and San Quintín need to receive each month to afford a basic but decent living. This study was conducted in the context of the fisheries, apparel and agriculture industries.

Read the new benchmark report: Baja California, Mexico

The post New Benchmark for Baja California, Mexico appeared first on Global Living Wage Coalition.

The GLWC is pleased to share three new 2020 living wage updates: Rural Vietnam, Urban Vietnam, and Rural Nilgiris, India. These reports update living wage estimates to account for changes in inflation, exchange rates, costs of living, and policy changes since the original reporting.

Read the newest updates:

• Rural Vietnam
• Urban Vietnam
• Rural Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India

Cover photo by ILO/Aaron Santos

The post New Living Wage Updates for Vietnam and India appeared first on Global Living Wage Coalition.