Bangladesh garment workers protest for higher wages amid rising living costs

Tens of thousands of ready-made garment workers in Bangladesh have staged street protests to demand higher minimum wages, Al Jazeera reported. The demonstrations involve workers from across the country, which ranks as the second largest apparel exporter in the world. [1]

According to Al Jazeera, workers say their earnings barely cover daily essentials such as food and education. Laili Begum, a 37-year-old sewing operator at Virtual Bottoms Limited near Dhaka, earns a base monthly wage of around 15,000 taka, or 121 dollars. Her pay increases to between 18,000 and 20,000 taka, or 145 to 161 dollars, when she works overtime. [1]

Begum stated that her 15-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son had to drop out of school earlier this year due to costs. She added that her family can barely afford one proper meal a day. [1]

The Tribune reported that Bangladesh Home Minister has alleged former Awami League-linked factory owners are fuelling the unrest among the garment workers. [2]