Bangladesh Garment Workers Stage Fourth Day of Wage Protests

Garment workers in Bangladesh staged a fourth day of wage protests on Tuesday, seeking to more than double the monthly minimum wage. The unrest, which began on Saturday, has disrupted factory operations and transport links within the country's apparel export sector. According to the Daily Maverick and Free Malaysia Today, the protests come as manufacturers enter the peak production season for spring and summer orders.

Clashes occurred across industrial areas around Dhaka, including Mirpur, Gazipur, and Ashulia, as demonstrators attempted to block major highways. The Daily Maverick reported that dozens of people, including several police officers, were injured during the unrest. In Ashulia, the superintendent of the Ashulia Industrial Police stated that police used tear gas and sound grenades after protesters threw stones and bricks at law enforcement.

The instability has intensified despite the government forming a six-member wage board to review pay levels. The Business of Fashion noted that violent clashes have resulted in shuttered factories and numerous injuries. The garment industry employs approximately 4 million workers and accounts for more than 80% of the country's export earnings.

Brief written by urgent.news from Business of Fashion, Daily Maverick, Free Malaysia Today, Channel News Asia — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.