Bangladesh garment protests shut more factories as workers demand wages be more than doubled
Fresh protests near Dhaka on Thursday forced more than 100 factories in Ashulia to suspend work, despite a wage-board promise of a new pay scale from December; workers want the minimum wage raised to 30,000 taka from 12,500.
Garment workers in Bangladesh staged new protests on Thursday, 5 November, forcing factories to halt production even after the government’s wage board promised a revised pay structure, Reuters reported (republished by BoF).
What happened
- The protests began on Saturday and have forced the closure of hundreds of factories.
- On Thursday workers in Ashulia, a major manufacturing hub on the outskirts of Dhaka, reported for work early but then walked out and blocked a major highway, demanding a clear announcement on the wage rise.
- More than 100 factories in the area suspended operations that day; extra police and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel were deployed.
The wage dispute
The wage board agreed on Wednesday to introduce a new structure from December, with the first pay under it in January, but has not yet set the size of the increase. Workers want the monthly minimum more than doubled to 30,000 taka (about $241.55) from 12,500 taka, citing higher food, housing and transport costs.
Why it matters for fashion
Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest garment exporter after China. The sector employs about 4 million people, generates more than 80% of export earnings and supplies brands including H&M, Zara owner Inditex and Walmart. Manufacturers warn the unrest could disrupt production during the peak season for export orders.
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