Bangladesh garment workers protesting for higher wages clash with police
Thousands of garment workers in Bangladesh have taken to the streets, blocking major roads and clashing with police as they demand a significant increase in monthly wages amid growing concerns over inflation and the rising cost of living.
The demonstrations have spread across several industrial areas, including Gazipur and Mirpur, putting fresh pressure on the government and the country’s powerful garment industry to address workers’ financial struggles.
In Gazipur, north of the capital Dhaka, hundreds of workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, while some protesters reportedly vandalised vehicles. In Mirpur, large groups gathered in the streets before police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, according to AFP reporters at the scene.
At the centre of the protests is a demand for a monthly minimum wage of 30,000 taka (approximately RM981). This is more than double the current monthly wage of around 13,000 taka, according to Kalpona Akter of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity.
For many garment workers, the demand goes beyond simply receiving a salary increase. Rising food prices, housing expenses, transportation costs and other household necessities have placed increasing pressure on families who depend on relatively low wages to survive.
The government had announced on Sunday that it would establish a wage board to review minimum salaries in the garment sector. However, labour representatives say the announcement has not addressed the immediate concerns of workers, who are demanding meaningful improvements to their living conditions.
The situation has also prompted an emergency cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday evening.
Following the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the Prime Minister had instructed officials to protect workers’ rights, improve their living standards and ensure that production and exports continued without disruption.
The Home Minister also called on law enforcement agencies to take action against individuals involved in violence, disorder and activities contributing to unrest.
Meanwhile, Kamrul Hasan, general secretary of the Ekota Garments Sramik Federation, told AFP that some labour leaders had gone into hiding. He acknowledged that the scale of the unrest had been unexpected, particularly because the government had already agreed to establish a wage board.
He added that workers were now raising broader concerns about wages and other unresolved workplace issues.
The disruption has affected a significant part of Bangladesh’s garment manufacturing sector. Industry representatives, speaking anonymously, confirmed that workers from at least 529 factories across Dhaka and surrounding industrial areas, including Savar, Ashulia, Jirani and Gazipur, had left their workplaces.
Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest garment exporter after China. Its clothing industry supplies major international fashion brands, employs millions of people and contributes a substantial share of the country’s export earnings.
A wage dispute that reflects a much bigger struggle
Behind the traffic disruptions, factory closures and clashes with police is a reality faced by millions of workers: earning a living should provide people with dignity, security and the ability to support their families.
For garment workers, higher wages are not simply about earning more money. They are about keeping up with everyday expenses, providing for their children, paying rent and having enough left to manage unexpected difficulties.
Bangladesh’s garment industry plays a major role in the global fashion economy. However, its long-term success also depends on the people who work behind the factory doors.
The challenge now is to find a meaningful solution that protects workers’ livelihoods while maintaining the stability of an industry that supports millions of families and contributes significantly to the national economy.
The coming days will be important in determining whether dialogue between the government, factory owners and labour representatives can produce an agreement that addresses workers’ demands and prevents further disruption.
Source: AFP