The government increased the annual increment of garment workers at 9 percent from 5 percent, according to a circular from the labour and employment ministry yesterday.

The circular also said the new increment will come into effect from December 1 and the workers will receive the salary with a 9 percent annual increment in January.

The other service benefits of the workers will not be cut because of the increase of the annual increment, the circular also said.

Earlier, the minimum wage board recommended the government last month to increase the annual increment by four percent along with existing five percent to make it 9 percent.

With a massive labour unrest in August and September, the government adopted 18 point demands in September including the review of the annual increment to cool down the unrest.

Finally, the annual increment has been fixed at 9 percent instead of 10 percent, the percentage the workers demanded.