Although the equal wage law was passed in 2006, its effective implementation remains largely absent even after nearly two decades in the coastal areas of Satkhira. Female workers continue to receive lower wages than their male counterparts for the same amount and type of work, forcing them into ongoing financial hardship.
In coastal areas, women work alongside men in various sectors, including crab farming, fish enclosures, shrimp larvae collection in rivers, fishing in the Sundarbans, assisting masons, earth-cutting, rural road construction and maintenance, and agriculture. Despite their equal contribution, women consistently face wage discrimination.
Due to climate change impacts—particularly increased salinity and shifts in agricultural practices—soft-shell crab farming has rapidly expanded in the region, creating new employment opportunities. A significant portion of the workforce in this sector is female.
Women are involved in feeding crabs, cutting, collecting shells, sorting, and cleaning—tasks that require long hours and hard labor. However, despite working the same hours as men, wage disparities are evident.
Male workers earn up to Tk 500 per day, while female workers receive only Tk 350 to Tk 400 for the same work.
Rina Khatun, a female worker from Burigoalini in Shyamnagar upazila, said, “I work at a crab farm from 7 am to 7 pm. My monthly salary is Tk 7,500, while a male colleague doing the same job earns Tk 9,000. I often perform more difficult tasks, yet my salary remains lower. Even after repeated requests for a raise, nothing has changed.”
Another worker, Muji Begum, who works in paddy harvesting, said, “I put in the same effort as men, but we are undervalued. If we received equal pay, life would be more manageable. For a day’s work, men earn Tk 800 while we receive only Tk 500, despite doing the same tasks.”
Kamrul Mallik, who works alongside his wife in road construction, said, “We do the same work from morning to evening and put in equal effort. But when wages are paid, my wife receives less. This is completely unfair. We want equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.”
Complaints of wage discrimination extend beyond the crab industry to other sectors, including earthwork, agriculture, and brick kilns.
Steve Roy Rupon, Upazila Coordinator of CCDB in Shyamnagar, said, “Women play a vital role in the labor market but are deprived of fair wages. Addressing this inequality requires not just awareness but also a strong social movement. Equal pay for equal work is a fundamental right, and eliminating this disparity will require coordinated efforts from local authorities, employers, and civil society.”
Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Afroza Akter said, “The district administration is working to ensure fair wages for female workers in accordance with labor laws and international conventions. Necessary measures will be taken.”
Experts believe that while sectors like crab farming have opened new opportunities in coastal areas, persistent wage inequality between men and women poses a major obstacle to sustainable development. Without urgent action, the full potential of these promising industries may not be realized, they said.
