DHAKA, Nov 25, 2025 (BSS) – Labour experts and tannery workers’ union (TWU) claimed that country’s tannery industry would face a deep crisis as the workers are fuming at the owners’ delay in implementing the revised minimum wage announced by the government even after a year.

Speaking at a press conference in the city, they also said the TWU workers have already threatened to launch a tough movement at any time to press home their demands.

"Despite the tannery being an important industry in Bangladesh, a risky situation still persists in it,” said Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of the Labor Reforms Commission and Executive Director of Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS) at the conference.

He said, “Keeping workers in temporary positions for a long time, delaying the implementation of the declared minimum wages (Tk 18,001) and creating uncertainty again in the name of review is weakening the foundation of trust among the stakeholders.” 
The current crisis in the industry will ultimately affect the entire industry and the national economy as well, he observed.

Tannery Workers’ Union President Abul Kalam Azad read out the written statement of the press conference. Solidarity Center Bangladesh Country Program Director and Labor Reform Commission member Advocate AKM Nasim and TWU General Secretary Abdul Malek were present there.

Advocate AKM Nasim, former president of Labour Court Bar Association, said, “Despite the gazette publication, the delay of the employers in implementing the minimum wages is worrying”.

TWU leaders said the revised minimum wage announced by the ministry on November 21 last year but steps were not taken to implement it for unknown reasons.

Labour experts said it is the joint responsibility of the state and the employers to ensure a decent working environment for workers to restore stability in the industry.