World · 1 d ago
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Bangladesh garment workers protest for a third day over pay
Current minimum
12,500 taka
Workers' demand
30,000 taka
Workers want a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka, more than double the current 12,500 taka, as prices for food, gas and electricity rise.
Arrested since Saturday
57 people
On Monday, workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway and set vehicles on fire, and police fired tear gas to disperse them. At least 57 people have been arrested since Saturday, a police spokesperson said.
The government formed a six-member wage board on Sunday to review the minimum wage. The manufacturers' association said the protests disrupted 529 factories that day, affecting nearly a million workers.
Why it matters
Bangladesh is the world's second-largest clothing exporter after China, and garments bring in more than 80 per cent of its export earnings. Annual inflation reached 8.34 per cent in September, according to official data.
