Bangladesh forms wage board as garment protests turn violent<\/p>\n
The wage board was formed after discussions with workers\u2019\nrepresentatives and industry leaders.<\/p>\n
DHAKA: Bangladesh announced a six-member wage board on Sunday (Nov 1)\nto review garment workers\u2019 pay and urged employees to return to work,\nbut protests demanding higher wages continued across major industrial\nareas, disrupting transport and factory operations.<\/p>\n
Workers in the South Asian nation are demanding a minimum monthly\nwage of 30,000 taka (U$245), more than double the current 12,500 taka,\nsaying rising costs of food, housing, transport and healthcare have\nsharply eroded their purchasing power.<\/p>\n
The dispute has raised concerns about disruption to an industry that\nemploys about 4 million workers, generates more than 80 per cent of\nBangladesh\u2019s export earnings and supplies clothing to many leading\nWestern brands.<\/p>\n
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the wage\nboard was formed after discussions with workers\u2019 representatives and\nindustry leaders and urged workers to resume work.<\/p>\n
Despite the announcement, thousands of garment workers staged fresh\ndemonstrations on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse workers who had\nblocked a busy intersection in Dhaka, police said. Some protesters\nhurled bricks at officers during the clashes.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of workers also blocked a major highway in Gazipur, on the\noutskirts of the capital, disrupting transport in one of the country\u2019s\nkey industrial belts.<\/p>\n
The demonstrations forced owners to shut 25 to 30 factories, while\nauthorities deployed Border Guard Bangladesh personnel to maintain\norder, Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Mohammad Amjad Hossain\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The latest unrest follows demonstrations in Ashulia, a major garment\nmanufacturing hub on the outskirts of Dhaka, where dozens of factories\nsuspended operations on Saturday after workers staged protests demanding\nhigher pay.<\/p>\n
Chowdhury warned that prolonged disruptions could delay export\nshipments and payments from international buyers, creating further\ndifficulties for manufacturers and workers alike.<\/p>\n
Bangladesh\u2019s ready-made garment industry, the world\u2019s largest after\nChina, contributes about 10 per cent of gross domestic product and is\nthe backbone of the economy.<\/p>\n
Manufacturers, however, said the sector is facing mounting\nchallenges, including rising production costs, periodic gas and\nelectricity shortages, and uncertainty in energy markets linked to\ntensions in the Middle East.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bangladesh-forms-wage-board-as-garment-protests-turn-violent-1793519411", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }