maksudrana@rocketmail.com
At least 80 people have been injured after Bangladesh police fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse textile workers protesting for a third day against a new minimum wage."There are hundreds of them. They tried to block a key highway and threw rocks at policemen. We fired tear gas to disperse them," Monowar Hossain, Dhaka's assistant police commissioner, said.
Workers also barricaded a highway at Narayanganj, east of the capital, and battled with police, witnesses said.
World's lowest
The workers, who make clothing for international brands like Marks & Spencer, JCPenney, Wal-Mart and H&M, demanded a minimum monthly salary of 5,000 taka ($72).
But on Thursdaythe government announced increased salaries of only $43 a month, for the millions of workers in the country's key export industry.
This was an 80 per cent increase to the minimum monthly wage for garment workers - up from $24 - the lowest industry salary in the world.
Most unions spurned the offer, saying the workers need at least $72 a month to ensure a minimum standard of living in the face of surging food prices and property rents.
Mosherafa Mish, head of the Garment Workers Unity Forum, which has been at the forefront of efforts to win better wages and working conditions for employees, called the pay hike "insultingly low".
Government intimidation
"The government should not intimidate the workers. The protests are a normal and spontaneous reaction to the government's sham wage hike," she said.
"They are holding protests because that's the only way their voices can be heard."
Mish alleged police were seeking to intimidate union leaders with death threats, including against herself, and had raided some of their houses.
On Saturday, Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister, told workers to "accept the pay hike and return to work", threatening tough action against those who remain on the streets.
She said continuing unrest, that often disrupted production and damaged manufacturing plants, would not benefit workers, but instead could threaten their livelihoods.
Hasina asked workers to return to work peacefully while factory owners said they would reopen closed plants if order was restored.
Below poverty line
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, representing more than 4,500 garment factories, said they would be compelled to close down factories permanently if the situation did not improve.
The garment industry is Bangladesh's biggest export market, accounting for more than 80 per cent of the impoverished country's annual export earnings of $16bn.
But workers earn wages well below the poverty line.
RELATEDARTICLES
.jpg){kind=small}
Bangladesh: Regime's Cruel Exercise of Power [+]
The State of Democracy and Political Freedom in Bangladesh [+]>The India doctrine and the elimination of political opposition in Bangladesh
>Cattle traders beaten to death by Indian BSF in Benapole border
>Dhaka University suspends Chhatra League activists
>Former PM Khaleda Zia evicted from her house
>They just disappear
>Torture in Police Custody [Human Rights Report By Odhikar]
>BCL factions clash over an affair with a female student, 10 injured.
>AL men attack govt office over candidate selection
>Bangladesh: Regime's Cruel Exercise of Power
>Digital Bangladesh: A Dream?
>Sheikh Qaradawi calls for Bangladesh to maintain Islamic identity
Thanks for writing this informational post .it is a very nice post.
ReplyDeleteVisit our Population of Bangladesh ……..
Thanks again .