More Protests in Bangladesh as Garment Workers Reject Pay Increase

A whole lot of garment staff in Bangladesh clashed with police for a second day on Thursday as they protested in opposition to a government-mandated pay rise, forcing the closure of almost 40 factories on the planet’s second-largest clothes exporter.

Witnesses stated the protesters, who need twice the rise supplied by the federal government, threw stones at police and vandalised a number of factories within the garment hub of Gazipur, on the outskirts of the capital.

“We managed to deliver the scenario underneath management,” native police official Imran Ahmed stated. Authorities have deployed additional police and paramilitary troops in Gazipur and the close by Ashulia industrial belt, he added.

The garment business is a mainstay of Bangladesh’s economic system, accounting for 16 p.c of GDP, and on Tuesday, the federal government stated the minimal month-to-month wage would rise by 56.25 p.c to 12,500 taka ($114) from Dec. 1, the primary enhance in 5 years.

The employees need extra. On Thursday, staff downed instruments at a number of factories at Ashulia, forcing them to shut, police stated.

“Costs are skyrocketing. We’re simply demanding respectable pay. We won’t return to work till our calls for are met,” one of many protesters stated.

One girl was killed on Wednesday as police used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the protests, which have coincided with violent anti-government demonstrations demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and calling for a free and honest vote underneath a caretaker authorities.

Low wages have helped Bangladesh construct its garment business, with some 4,000 factories using 4 million staff, supplying world manufacturers similar to H&M and Hole.

A US affiliation representing greater than 1,000 world manufacturers stated it was dedicated to paying greater buy costs to producers in Bangladesh to assist greater wages for staff.

This text was written by Ruma Paul from Reuters and was legally licensed by way of the DiveMarketplace by Business Dive. Please direct all licensing inquiries to legal@industrydive.com.

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Bangladesh Hikes Minimum Wage for Garment Workers After Protests

The minimal wage for staff will rise to 12,500 taka ($114) monthly from Dec. 1, State Minister for Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian stated.