Bangladesh has raised minimum monthly wages for its millions of garment workers by about 80 percent after months of violent protests over poor pay and conditions, a government minister said. The official minimum wage has been set at 3,000 takas ($45) a month, up from 1662 takas ($25) in the first raise since 2006, Labour Minister Khandaker Mosharaff Hossain said.

"We have tried our best to meet the demands of the workers," Hossain told reporters in announcing the new wages after months of negotiations with garment factory owners. The new pay structure starts in November and has seven grades the highest pay fixed at 9,300 takas ($140). Factory owners or trade union leaders were not immediately available for comment Thursday. Workers and labour rights groups have pressed for a monthly wage of 5,000 takas ($73). back