[September 2025] – The global garment industry, a cornerstone of fast fashion and international supply chains, continues to draw criticism for low wages that often fail to meet basic living standards.
In Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest apparel exporter, garment workers recently saw their minimum monthly wage rise to US $113. The increase followed months of protests but remains far below what unions call a “living wage.”
In Cambodia, authorities set the 2024 minimum at US $204 per month for garment workers, a small bump from previous years. Yet, rising food and housing costs mean most workers still live paycheck to paycheck.
Workers in Myanmar earn roughly US $161 per month, according to 2020 data, while in Indonesia, average monthly pay in the textile and apparel sector stands near US $194. Both countries face mounting pressure from international labor groups to address wage stagnation amid inflation.
The situation is equally stark in Lesotho, a major African hub for U.S. and European clothing brands. Wages range between US $146 and US $163 per month, sparking anger among workers after U.S. tariff changes and falling export orders hit the industry.
Labor rights organizations warn that while nominal wages have inched upward in many regions, they remain far below the threshold for a decent standard of living. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that millions of garment workers worldwide still rely on excessive overtime and debt to survive.
Advocates argue that real change requires not just government action, but also commitments from global fashion brands to pay suppliers enough to cover fair wages. Without it, they say, the industry risks continuing a cycle of poverty despite being worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually.
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