Thousands of garment workers in Bangladesh took to the streets on Monday demanding that the monthly minimum wage be more than doubled, clashing with police in several industrial hubs. They want 30,000 taka a month; labour groups say workers currently earn about 13,000 taka.
In Gazipur, north of Dhaka, hundreds of workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway and damaged several vehicles, while police used tear gas to disperse protesters in the capital's Mirpur district. Angry workers also set fire to a police vehicle. In Ashulia, home to some of the country's largest factories, police fired stun grenades and tear gas, with the gas drifting into densely packed housing.
"Food prices, cooking gas and electricity bills have all gone up. The government must either bring down prices or raise our wages," said one 28-year-old factory worker. Industry representatives said workers from at least 529 factories in and around Dhaka walked out on Sunday.
The unrest continued despite the government's announcement that a wage board would review pay in the sector. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed warned that anyone engaged in unlawful activities "under the guise of labour movements" would be dealt with firmly, while saying Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had told officials after an emergency cabinet meeting to protect workers' rights and keep exports flowing. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment exporter after China, and the industry provides the bulk of its export earnings.