Nearly 45 percent of the country’s labor force is engaged in agriculture. Yet, even after 54 years of independence, Bangladesh has no minimum wage structure for laborers in this sector. In contrast, several states of India and provinces of China have minimum wage systems. Myanmar has also introduced protections for agricultural laborers. Apart from these countries, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the United States, and the United Kingdom also have established minimum wage frameworks for farm workers.
Experts say a proper minimum wage structure would help reduce gender-based wage discrimination as well as improve the rural economy, and ease pressure on city-centric employment.
In Bangladesh, the Minimum Wage Board under the Ministry of Labour and Employment determines minimum wages for sector-specific workers. According to the board, minimum wages have been set for 47 industries. But the rules explicitly state regarding ‘workers’ other than industry that workers in agriculture and domestic work are not covered under this structure. While there is no minimum wage for traditional agricultural laborers, sectors linked to agriculture — such as shrimp farming, fishing trawlers, rubber, and cold storage — do have defined wage structures.
According to the Bangladesh Krishok Federation President, Badrul Alam, the agricultural sector has long remained neglected, and the rights of those who work in this field are always placed in the shadows. He told Bonik Barta, “Agricultural laborers and rural day laborers never receive adequate attention from the state. Their human rights are constantly ignored, even though they ensure our food security. Because there is no minimum wage, wage discrimination between men and women remains widespread. Nothing changes here without movements, but we do not have a strong farmers’ movement, and that’s why we don’t see any policy changes.”
Agriculture economists note that while Bangladesh lacks a minimum wage, several states of India and provinces of China have moved forward to implement the minimum wage structure. In July 2025, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath revised the minimum wage for agricultural workers. Under the new rules, an adult farm laborer must receive at least INR 252 or BDT 344 per day. If a worker already earns more than this minimum, the higher figure remains applicable. The order covers traditional agricultural work as well as mushroom cultivation, crop transportation, dairy, livestock, beekeeping, poultry farms, and associated activities.
Sri Lanka amended its National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, 2016, in 2025. Under the revised framework, the minimum monthly wage across all sectors is LKR 27,000. And the minimum daily wage is LKR 1,080, or around BDT 430. In Nepal, agricultural workers earn at least BDT 546 per day, and in Myanmar, the figure is around BDT 455. Meanwhile, minimum wages in Indonesia range between BDT 534 and BDT 900, depending on the region. In China, minimum wages are BDT 1,512 in Shanghai and BDT 972 in Guangxi. The United States, the United Kingdom, and African countries such as Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia have separate minimum wage guidelines for agricultural and non-agricultural workers.
Regarding this matter, agricultural economist Dr. Jahangir Alam told Bonik Barta, “Those engaged in agricultural work need a stable minimum wage structure. There was an attempt to fix wages in terms of rice once, but given the current market, the value must be updated. This would prevent laborers from changing their occupation. At the same time, during peak seasons, farms would not suffer from inflated labor costs.”
Stating that the human rights of agricultural workers are also ignored, he further said, “Accidents and risks in life are much higher in this sector. Workers face snakebites, lightning strikes, electrocution, cancer, and other hazards. Many families fall into destitution because of these hazards, yet they receive no financial support. There are inadequate hospitals in rural area, or district level for their treatment. These problems must be resolved; otherwise, many of them will be forced to leave agriculture for more financially stable options.”
Dr. Jahangir Alam further suggested, “Agricultural laborers must be prioritized to give access to specialized hospitals, or other healthcare centers. Besides, initiatives such as providing incentives in festivals, and educational support for their children in agricultural universities would discourage rural-to-urban migration and help stabilize both urban and rural economies.”
Because there is no minimum wage structure for the workers engaged in core agricultural activities such as crop production, harvesting, and transportation, wage disparities remain severe. Wages fluctuate depending on regions and demand during peak seasons, however, wages are low at other times. Moreover, the absence of a formal structure also exacerbates gender-based disparities.
According to various organizations, Bangladesh has the highest male-female wage gap among agricultural laborers compared to India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In some cases, the gap reaches 35–40 percent.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) released agricultural wage data for July–September of 2024 in a report published this March. It shows that the average daily wage for male agricultural workers excluding meals was BDT 583, while women earned BDT 425. With one meal, men earned BDT 542 and women BDT 396. For two meals, men earned BDT 506 versus women’s BDT 367. With three meals included, the wage was BDT 487 for men and BDT 358 for women.
India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare reports that in FY 2023–24, the average daily wage for male agricultural laborers was INR 420, while women earned INR 360. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), male agricultural workers in Pakistan earned PKR 13,126 per month, and women earned PKR 8,599.
The number of floating people in Dhaka is rising steadily, along with growing pressure from job seekers migrating to the capital in search of urban employment. As there is no initiative to ensure the financial security of agricultural laborers, many are leaving rural areas for the city. As a result, several regions face acute shortages of farm workers during peak harvest seasons. Sector insiders believe that a policy framework to protect agricultural laborers would have a direct and significant impact on the rural economy.
Labour Reform Commission head and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, told Bonik Barta, “During Ershad’s tenure, a minimum wage for agricultural workers was decided to be set. But it was never implemented. Now there is no discussion on this matter at all. Those engaged in agriculture must be recognized as workers, and at the same time, a minimum wage for them must be determined.”
In 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted a non-binding international declaration — the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) — which aims to protect their rights to land, food, water, a safe environment, along with protecting their unique culture, knowledge, and role. Bangladesh also signed the declaration and committed to taking effective measures. But no concrete steps have been taken, even after nearly seven years, said Bangladesh Krishok Federation President Badrul Alam.
The Minimum Wage Board is responsible for setting minimum wages. Its chairman, Senior District Judge Mamunur Rashid, could not be reached for comment despite repeated phone calls. Board Secretary Raisa Afroz also declined to comment immediately.