ETI is joining trade union calls for the Bangladeshi government to make a further increase in the minimum wage to 5,000 taka (around £45) a month, and to speed up its implementation.
Workers in and around Dhaka rioted for several days after the government on 31 June announced its long-delayed decision to raise the minimum wage from 1,662 taka (£15) a month to 3,000 taka (£27), to come into effect on 1 November.
The new minimum wage falls far short of the 5,000 taka supported by Bangladeshi and international unions, which ETI considers a realistic target to work towards in Bangladesh.
Says ETI Chair Alan Roberts: "The 2.5 million people working in the industry are clearly incredibly frustrated about the government's continuing failure to set a minimum wage that reflects their true cost of living.
"The government must increase the minimum wage further, and do so swiftly. It must also enforce the rule of law and ensure that workers are free to join a union of their choosing, so that they can collectively bargain with their employers to increase wages.
"Retailers sourcing from Bangladesh also have a critical role to play. They must take urgent steps to ensure they are trading in a way that supports a living wage and decent terms and conditions for workers.
"This must take account of the price they pay to their suppliers, but retailers also need to embed ethical trade into the way they do business with them, including developing close working relationships with factories, making sure they don't place unrealistic demands on them, and supporting them to achieve maximum efficiency."
ETI member companies sourcing from Bangladesh have been working to raise standards in their supplier factories over several years. Most recently, companies including M&S and Asda George have embarked on pilot projects with selected factories to achieve incremental wage rises through efficiency gains.
Wages in some factories have already risen by up to 55%, and there is potential for extending the gains far more broadly across the industry.
ETI members are also committed to using their collective influence to lobby the government to raise standards for Bangladeshi garment workers, and we have approached Bangladeshi government representatives requesting an urgent dialogue.
Says Roberts: "There is no silver bullet to raising wages in Bangladesh. But there is huge potential to make a lasting difference across the industry if the government, industry, unions and retailers all play their part."