World

Bangladesh garment workers take to the streets to demand higher minimum wages

Tens of thousands walked out in the world's second-largest apparel exporter, saying current pay leaves them unable to cover basic needs.

Bangladesh garment workers take to the streets to demand higher minimum wages
Photograph: AJE

What to know

  • Tens of thousands of garment workers joined the protests.
  • The demonstrators are calling for a better minimum wage.
  • Workers say their current earnings barely cover their needs.
  • Bangladesh is the world's second-largest apparel exporter.

Tens of thousands of garment workers in Bangladesh have taken to the streets to press for a higher minimum wage, saying what they earn is not enough to live on. The demonstrations drew workers from an industry that makes the country the second-largest apparel exporter in the world.

Workers described going hungry on current pay. The protests put the wage question at the centre of a sector that supplies global clothing brands. No figure for the wage increase being sought was given in the report.

Reporting credit

Written by the NationsDesk desk. The underlying reporting is by AJE.

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