October 30, 2026

Call for Solidarity: Open letter to brands in support of factory workers in Bangladesh

Support the open letter initiated by the Garment Workers’ Trade Union Center (GWTUC) and the International Confederation of Labour (ICL-CIT) Working Group Asia. Deadline: November 16, 2026
Drop us a line, to be listed as a supporter of the letter: asia@icl-cit.org | gwtucbd@gmail.com

Poster calling for support of garment workers in Bangladesh with a fiery background, detailing minimum wage and seeking justice for families affected by a gas explosion.

The letter below is a reaction to the explosion of gas cylinders at a garment factory run by Pretty Group in Ashulia, Dhaka (Bangladesh) killing nine workers and injuring at least 35 on September 20, 2026.
Most recently workers have also been taking to the streets in their struggle for a living wage in the garment industry. Following the escalation of the minimum wage struggle in 2023 killing at least five workers, thousands of workers rallied and blocked a highway in Uttara, Dhaka, in their fight for an increase in the monthly minimum wage from currently meager 12 500 BDT to 35 000 BDT (252 EUR | 282 USD). The rally was attacked by riot cops leaving at least 50 workers injured on October 17, 2026.

In support of the workers we want to involve a primary actor in this labour struggle: the brands.
Therefore the below open letter is directed at these brands and retailers sourcing from factories run by Pretty Group.

We call on all labour unions and groups to support the open letter and hand it over to the management of stores mentioned above in their cities during the week of Black Friday – November 23 – 29, 2026. Optionally this can also be linked with a rally at the store. Please take a picture/video of the action and share it with us.
This will help to communicate this whole coordination as a collective action.
asia@icl-cit.org | gwtucbd@gmail.com

Open letter

Dear management of ________,

We are reaching out to you in your role as a significant customer of the RMG manufacturer Pretty Group.

We, the undersigned organizations, express our deep condolences following the loss of at least nine innocent lives in the gas cylinder explosion at the factory of Pretty Composite Textiles Ltd. in Jamgora, Ashulia, Bangladesh, in September 2026. We wish the 35 injured workers a speedy recovery.

We express our deep anger at the flagrant safety violations that led to these deaths and injuries, which amount to negligent homicide.

We uphold and support the demands of the Garment Workers’ Trade Union Center, as listed below. To prevent future tragedies, a swift, independent investigation must be conducted, safety committees with veto power for mandated worker representatives must be established, and robust safety regulations must be implemented and enforced.

Furthermore, garment workers continue to toil in factories for your profits. For years, they have been struggling to secure a decent living wage. Today, they are taking to the streets once again, fighting for a monthly minimum wage of 35,000 BDT (252 EUR / 282 USD).

As a significant party benefiting from the horrendous working conditions in garment factories, we expect you to publicly support the workers’ demands and put pressure on factory owners and government institutions to ensure that the workers who produce your products can live with dignity.

It is our duty as members of the global trade union movement to stand in solidarity with workers throughout the entire supply chain. We have strong connections with the labor movement in Bangladesh and are ready to mobilize internationally and organize protests outside your stores if the situation does not improve significantly!

Contacts: gwtucbd@gmail.com | asia@icl-cit.org | [add your email address]

The workers demand:

ᯓ➤ Minimum wage of 35 000 BDT!
ᯓ➤ Just compensation to family members of the deceased following the gas explosion in Ashulia on Sept. 20, 2026!
ᯓ➤ Good quality medical care to the injured!
ᯓ➤ Compensation for lost work hours!
ᯓ➤ Independent investigations!
ᯓ➤ Supporting the formation of safety committees at each factory!
ᯓ➤ Enforcement of robust safety regulations!