After a week of protests, clothing manufacturers in Bangladesh have agreed to increase the wages of their employees. This was announced by the Bangladeshi Commerce Minister, who is appealing to the workers to return to their jobs after the intense period of protests. Except for at least a few hundred that is, who have been sacked for going on strike.
Protests against pay rise
Since last week, textile workers in Bangladesh have been protesting in the streets against the new salary conditions. Back in September, the government had ratified a pay rise that would be put in effect as of December, but the workers and their unions believe that this salary increase – the first in five years – was insufficient to meet the rapidly rising cost of living. They have also been complaining about the fact that the increase doesn’t apply to all wage scales, so that only a portion of textile workers can benefit from it.
One person was killed during the protests and dozens were wounded when the protesters were trying to block a connection road last Wednesday. On Saturday, fighting broke out again between the protesters and the police, claiming at least twenty casualties.
New pay conditions as of January
On 30 December, the people of Bangladesh voted in a new government. As a result of the protests, the newly elected government has assembled a committee of factory owners, union representatives and government officials to discuss the demands. All parties have agreed to increase pay for six out of the seven wage scales. Only the minimum wage, which had already been increased in September, remains unaffected.
The new pay rise will already be in effect this month, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi promises. He is calling for the workers to return to their jobs peacefully. Amirul Huq, representative of the union leaders in the panel, seems to be satisfied according to Fashion Network: “The discrepancies in the wage structure have been resolved by the prime minister’s intervention. We welcome the new wages. As trade unions, we have the right to protest, but that does not mean vandalising factories or blocking roads. Workers will go back to work.”
Not all workers are allowed to go back to work however: the same website found out that at least several hundreds of people have been laid off. “This is wrong. The owners are doing this to create a climate of fear, so that no one would dare protest or demand a honest salary”, a union representative said. In a textile centre in Ashulia, close to the capital Dacca, at least 750 workers would have suffered this fate.
It is not yet known what will happen now to the international Accord on safety and improved working conditions, which was formed after the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013. On 21 January, the court will announce its decision on the appeal. Then, the people of Bangladesh will know whether international monitoring in the factories will still be allowed or whether the government of Bangladesh will take over that responsibility.
