Garment workers in Bangladesh have been protesting for more wages since October – with fatal consequences. FashionUnited asked the Dutch organization Clean Clothes Campaign about the current state of affairs, as thousands of workers have reportedly been laid off. “It is not yet entirely clear, but union leaders in Bangladesh estimate that around 3,000 to 4,000 workers have been laid off so far. “In addition, 131 workers are still in prison,” said a spokesman for the organization.
There has been political unrest in Bangladesh since October. Reuters speaks of an “authoritarian crackdown” in the country. Police respond to minimum wage protests with violence and intimidation. At least four people were killed in the protests, Reuters reports. That doesn’t stop workers from protesting.
Garment workers in Bangladesh demand higher minimum wage
Workers in the textile industry, one of the main sources of income, are protesting against one of the lowest wages in the world. From a monthly wage of 8,300 taka (70 euros) for textile workers, the government increased the monthly wage to 12,500 taka (100 euros) in November. The Clean Clothes Campaign called this increase “outrageous.” According to research by the Dutch organization, a living wage is at least 23,000 taka (195 euros) per month. So this is the amount that the workers and unions – the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, the National Garment Workers Federation and the Bangladesh Garments Workers Unity Council – are demanding.
For several months, the Clean Clothes Campaign has been calling on at least 60 brands that produce in Bangladesh to support the demand for higher wages. In response, brands including Asos, Primark and H&M wrote in September that they were playing their role in the “Supporting wage development” recognize. Words that mean little, say the unions in Bangladesh. They argue that the dozens of Western brands that produce in Bangladesh should do more to pay their suppliers more.
The unrest in Bangladesh has not yet subsided. There are still major protests against the renegotiation of minimum wages, especially in the textile industry, the country’s main source of income. According to the industry magazine FashionNetwork, additional police and the army are being deployed across the country due to fears of violence in the run-up to the elections scheduled for Sunday, January 7th.
Bangladesh is considered the second largest clothing producer in the world after China. More than 4.4 million people are employed in the clothing industry. 70 percent of them are women. The country’s clothing sector accounts for more than 80 percent of total export earnings and contributes more than 11 percent to the national gross domestic product.