Bangladesh Has Approved Nearly Double The Minimum Wage In The Clothing Industry.

　　 Bangladesh has approved nearly double the minimum wage in the clothing industry, a move aimed at ending the months of protests. The garments produced by Bangladesh workers are supplied to Martha. Department store (Marksand Spencer), H&M and retailers such as WAL-MART (Walmart).

The salaries of nearly 2 million 500 thousand garment workers in the country are currently at the lowest level in the world, and their monthly minimum wage will increase from $23 to $43.

Over the past few months, Asia The voices of manufacturing workers everywhere demanding improved working conditions are louder. For example, Chinese factory owners came to grief over the rare strikes. Workers protested for too long hours and low wages.

Just days before Bangladesh decided to raise its minimum wage, SheikhHasinaWajed, Prime Minister Sheikh, said in parliament that wages in the past were "not only too low but also inhumane".

However, wages did not rise to what workers asked for $75. The factory is not sure whether this is enough to end the labour dispute that interfered with production in recent months.

In the past 4 years, the price of food in Bangladesh has been rising and wages are still untouched. This situation has caused great harm. Last month, in one of the busiest export processing zones in the country, workers clash with police and looted a number of factories, forcing the industrial area to be temporarily closed.

"I hope they do not feel dissatisfied," said AbdusSalamMurshedy, President of Bangladesh garment manufacturers and Exporters Association. "In the present situation, this increase is reasonable."

The total export volume of Bangladesh is about $12 billion a year, compared with the figure of $5 billion 8 years ago, because Western brands have shifted from China to cheaper areas. clothing It accounts for about 80% of Bangladesh's total exports.

The new wage standard will take effect from November, when the wage level in Bangladesh will be unchanged from that in Kampuchea. Kampuchea is next to Bangladesh, the second lowest production cost.

Andrew, a fashion industry consultant in New York, said that the salary increase would not adversely affect Bangladesh's clothing industry, but it would slightly increase the pressure on retailers to raise prices. (AndrewJassin).

However, trade unions and charities, such as international action assistance (ActionAid), think that the pay increase is still not enough.

According to their estimates, when the monthly salary is 98 pounds ($153), clothing industry workers have the ability to provide nutritious food, health care and education for their families.