Figure 3 illustrates a situation reported by a typical worker. Under the old wage
structure, a sewing machine operator’s legal monthly minimum wage was set at
2 400 BDT per month. By October 2010 she was receiving 3 000 BDT per month
because of yearly increments and other bonuses. In 2010 the new minimum wage
for the same person was set at 3 500 BDT, and she no longer received the
additional 600 BDT in bonuses and other payments. This worker’s wage increase
should have been 1 100 BDT; but in practice it was 500 BDT.