‘Going hungry’: Garment workers in Bangladesh say wages barely cover needs

What the report says

Garment workers in Bangladesh have staged protests over wages they say no longer cover basic living costs, according to Al Jazeera. The unrest has drawn thousands of workers onto the streets in and around Dhaka, including the Ashulia industrial area, Gazipur and Mirpur, as they press for a higher minimum wage in the country’s export-focused apparel sector.

Al Jazeera reported that workers are demanding a monthly minimum of 30,000 taka ($241), more than double the current 12,500 taka ($102). The article said demonstrations disrupted operations at hundreds of factories and prompted police to use tear gas and stun grenades, with arrests reported. The government later announced a six-member wage board to review the workers’ demands, while labour officials urged a return to work and said negotiations would begin.

The story centered on workers such as Laili Begum, who said her pay is not enough to feed her family or keep her children in school, and Rasel Khan, who said rising prices have forced him into debt. Al Jazeera noted that Bangladesh’s garment sector, one of the world’s largest, is under pressure from inflation, low wages and global competition. Industry representatives argued that any wage rise must also consider factory viability and pricing from international brands.