Thousands of garment workers in Bangladesh walked off the job Monday demanding more than double the current minimum wage, disrupting hundreds of factories in one of the world’s largest clothing export industries.
Workers from at least 670 factories joined the strike as protests spread across Gazipur, Mirpur, Ashulia and Narayanganj, major manufacturing centers around the capital, Dhaka, industry representatives told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The workers are demanding a monthly minimum wage of 30,000 taka ($241). They currently earn about 13,000 taka a month, according to Kalpona Akter of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity.
Labor leaders said rising living costs are driving the protests as inflation stands at 8%.
“Food prices, cooking gas and electricity bills have all gone up — the government must either bring down the prices of essential commodities or raise our wages,” said Mamun, 28, a factory worker.
“We keep the wheels of the economy turning. They must listen to us,” said Sharmin, 24, a machine operator.
Bangladesh, home to about 170 million people, is the world’s second-largest garment exporter after China. Its factories supply international companies including Fruit of the Loom, Levi Strauss and VF Corp., whose brands include Vans, Timberland and The North Face.
The garment industry employs millions of workers and accounts for the bulk of Bangladesh’s export earnings.
The protests continued despite a government announcement Sunday that it would establish a board to review the industry’s minimum wage.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had instructed officials after an emergency Cabinet meeting Sunday to “ensure workers’ rights and improve their living standards.”
Ahmed said Rahman also ordered officials to make sure production and exports continued “unhindered.”
The country’s main garment and knitwear manufacturers’ associations warned that “prolonged unrest could disrupt production, delay export shipments and affect Bangladesh’s commitments to international buyers,” according to the state-run BSS news agency.
The wage protests have also led to clashes between workers and police.
Hundreds of workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur, north of Dhaka, where some protesters damaged vehicles and torched a police vehicle. Police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Mirpur, AFP reporters saw.
Police also fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters in Ashulia, a Dhaka suburb that is home to some of the country’s largest factories. Strikes also spread to Narayanganj, another major manufacturing hub.
At least 58 police officers have been injured since the protests began Saturday, according to police. Authorities did not provide a figure for injured protesters.
At least 57 people have been arrested.
“Those engaging in unlawful activities and conspiracies under the guise of labour movements will be tackled with an iron hand,” Ahmed said after meeting industry leaders Monday.
Kamrul Hasan, general secretary of the Ekota Garments Sramik Federation, said some labor leaders had gone into hiding.
“We were not prepared for this unrest either, as the wage board has already been formed. But workers are now protesting over wages and other unresolved issues,” Hasan said.
In Ashulia, security officers chased protesters into narrow side streets as tear gas drifted into densely packed residential compounds.
“Police fired tear gas shells inside our compound. We have children, but they don’t care,” said Kamona, 24, who gave only one name.
