Garment Workers Protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 14 years ago
Garment workers demanding higher wages clashed with police in Bangladesh on Monday, in a fourth day of protest. It comes despite their leaders agreeing to a new pay structure announced last week.
Witnesses say at least 70 people, including police, were injured in violence around the capital city of Dhaka.
Police used teargas, batons and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters who barricaded roads and attacked vehicles.
Police say around 300 people were injured and dozens detained in similar unrest over the past three days.
Last week, the government nearly doubled the minimum wage for millions of workers in the export garment industry.
Late Sunday, representatives from 42 labor unions agreed to accept the new wages at a meeting with ministers, lawmakers, garment factory owners and chamber leaders.
Labor representatives told reporters they condemned the violence, and had no objections with the proposed wage hike.
The country’s labor minister says the government will take stern action to prevent further unrest and punish those involved. He also said rice rations and dormitories would soon be provided for workers in the Export Processing Zones.
Global brands including Wal-Mart, H&M, JC Penney, Kohl's, Marks & Spencer, Zara and Carrefour all buy in bulk from Bangladesh.
Ready-made garments are Bangladesh's biggest export, accounting for more than 80 percent of the impoverished country's annual export earnings.
The garment sector employs 3.5 million workers, with many toiling in dangerous conditions.
Dozens of workers were injured in clashes with police last month during protests over salaries and working conditions that disrupted production at several factories.
Witnesses say at least 70 people, including police, were injured in violence around the capital city of Dhaka.
Police used teargas, batons and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters who barricaded roads and attacked vehicles.
Police say around 300 people were injured and dozens detained in similar unrest over the past three days.
Last week, the government nearly doubled the minimum wage for millions of workers in the export garment industry.
Late Sunday, representatives from 42 labor unions agreed to accept the new wages at a meeting with ministers, lawmakers, garment factory owners and chamber leaders.
Labor representatives told reporters they condemned the violence, and had no objections with the proposed wage hike.
The country’s labor minister says the government will take stern action to prevent further unrest and punish those involved. He also said rice rations and dormitories would soon be provided for workers in the Export Processing Zones.
Global brands including Wal-Mart, H&M, JC Penney, Kohl's, Marks & Spencer, Zara and Carrefour all buy in bulk from Bangladesh.
Ready-made garments are Bangladesh's biggest export, accounting for more than 80 percent of the impoverished country's annual export earnings.
The garment sector employs 3.5 million workers, with many toiling in dangerous conditions.
Dozens of workers were injured in clashes with police last month during protests over salaries and working conditions that disrupted production at several factories.