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Bangladeshi garment workers fight for increase in the national minimum wage

War on Want partner the National Garment Workers' Federation (NGWF) led a rally of Bangladeshi garment workers in Dhaka last week.

War on Want partner the National Garment Workers' Federation (NGWF) led a rally of  Bangladeshi garment workers in Dhaka on Friday 4 June to demand an increase in the national minimum wage.

Dhaka_protest

More than 300 marchers called on the government to establish a new minimum wage of Tk 5,000 per month (£49.85), which would enable workers and their dependants to meet their basic living needs including food, shelter, clothes, education, health care and transport.

The majority of garment workers are paid a minimum wage of Tk 1,662 (£16.57) per month. That salary did not cover a worker's cost of living when it was set by the government in 2006. After four years of price inflation without any rise in wages, Bangladeshi workers today are significantly worse off. NGWF President Amin Haque now predicts that further labour unrest is inevitable unless the government takes action by raising the national minimum wage to levels that ensure decent standards of living for workers.

War on Want is proud to lend its support to the NGWF's campaign for a living wage for Bangladeshi garment workers.

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Tags: overseas work | sweatshops & plantations