Sri Lanka's textile wages rise, China maintains highest pay

Among the top five textile exporting countries, Sri Lanka maintains lower wages despite a slight increase this year. The average wages in the country rose by 3.2 per cent to $38.1 per month. China holds the highest wages at $296.4 per month, despite a decline of 4.4 per cent over the last year. In dollar terms, wages have shown a downward trend in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. 

Sri Lankan wages were recorded at $36.9 per month this year. In the local currency Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR), wages increased by 11.1 per cent to LKR 12,500 per month, up from LKR 11,250 per month last year, according to Fibre2Fashion’s market insight tool TexPro. 

Bangladesh's average wages remained stable at Tk 9,442 per month. However, they declined by 14.7 per cent to $87.6 per month, down from $102 per month last year. This decrease in USD is due to the fall in the local currency. 

In China, wages rose slightly by 0.8 per cent to CNY 2,093 per month in local currency, compared to CNY 2,076.9 last year. In US dollars, wages decreased by 4.4 per cent to $296.4 per month, down from $310.2 per month. Labour costs remain the highest in China among these five textile-exporting countries, as per TexPro.

Wages were stable in India and Pakistan in local currency. In India, wages were recorded at ₹14,405.6 per month, similar to last year, but fell by 5.2 per cent to $174.6 per month this year, down from $184.3 last year. Pakistan recorded wages at PKR 26,174.4 per month, unchanged from last year. However, labour costs dropped by 27.7 per cent to $94.3 per month this year, down from $130.4 per month last year. Pakistan's local currency has seen a steep fall against the US dollar this year. 

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)