Garment workers struggle in Bangladesh – United for 25 000 BDT minimum wage!
UPDATE (Dec. 9th, 2023): Following the massive wave of strikes and protests in various industrial areas and the announcements of the new minimum wage of 12 500 BDT by the wage board, things calmed down inside the factories and on the streets for now. Labour unions reject this new minimum wage and will keep fighting for higher wages. Currently labour union activists face repression (terminations, lawsuits, physical attacks) and keep acting from the underground. Once the garment workers received their first payslips with the new wage structure and after the general elections on January 7th 2024, the GWTUC expects garment workers to re-activate the wage movement.
Updates will be published on the pages Call for Worldwide SOLIDARITY and inside the NEWS section. Stay tuned.
Introduction
Around four million garment workers in 3 500 factories across Bangladesh produce clothes and other textile products worth 55 billion USD – accounting to 85% of the country’s exports annually. Clothes that are produced for brands such as Gap, H&M, Walmart, Zara, Levi’s, Marks & Spencer, adidas and Nike end up in stores worldwide.
For the past few years the garment workers had to survive with a monthly minimum wage of 8 000 BDT (75 USD). Especially towards the end of October 2023 the struggle for a significant increase in wages intensified. Labour unions call to set the new minimum wage at at least 23 000 BDT (208 USD).
Major profiteers at the expense of the garment workers are not only the factory owners but also the retailing companies. Therefore the Garment Workers’ Trade Union Center (GWTUC) calls for the globalisation of this labour struggle. All can help to pressure the brands in their region to support the demands of the workers on the ground.
The GWTUC is part of the Global May Day network and will provide updates on the struggle, which will then be published in the NEWS section.
#1world1struggle #globalisethefight
Contact: garmentworkerssolidarity@globalmayday.net
