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Bangladesh Textile Workers Return To Work On Wednesday

2010/6/25 17:06:00 55

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Workers from 300 garment factories outside the capital of Bangladesh once staged protests to raise the minimum wage by three times, and the factory shut down for a day. Workers agreed to consider workers' demands and workers resumed work on Wednesday.

Officials said 200 thousand workers in the Ashulia Industrial Zone resumed after factory owners promised to raise wages as soon as possible.

Witnesses said there were no police and security guards in the district.

The demonstrators asked for a monthly wage increase from 1660 Taka (equivalent to $24) to the new minimum wage of 5000 Taka.

Abdus Salam Murshedy, President of Bangladesh garment manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said the new wage standard is the result of negotiations between workers and the government, and is likely to be implemented next month.

The association represents more than 4500 factories, employing 3 million 500 thousand workers, most of whom are women. The Association says the minimum monthly wage will not exceed 3000 Taka at most, and workers say the last raise is in 2006.

At least 100 people were injured in the conflict.

The factory closes for global brand production and supply, such as Marsha, JC Penney, Cole, WAL-MART, H & M, Zara and Carrefour.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, clothing is the largest export commodity in Bangladesh, accounting for more than 80% of the total export revenue of the country for 15 billion US dollars.