The Ministry of Labour and Employment has announced the formation of a wage board to determine new wages for garment workers, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said on Sunday.
 
The announcement came amid growing protests by garment workers demanding higher wages and improvements in other workplace conditions.
 
The minister made the announcement at around 11:30am, saying the government and garment industry owners had agreed to form the board.
 
On Saturday, after a meeting with representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at the Labour Building in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, the minister had said the wage board would be formed on Sunday.
 
He said forming a new wage board was one of the workers' major demands. The government, BGMEA and BKMEA had reached an agreement on the issue, while workers' representatives had also submitted the names of their nominated members.
 
The official notification announcing the formation of the board is expected to be issued by the end of Sunday, the minister added.
 
Garment workers have been staging protests, demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk30,000, an end to blacklisting of workers and the reinstatement of those who have been dismissed.
 
On Saturday, workers staged demonstrations and blocked roads in Mirpur, Savar and Gazipur. Vandalism was also reported at several factories and markets.
 
At least 15 people, including police personnel, were injured in clashes during the protests.