Riots in Bangladesh: Hundreds of Textile Factories Shut Down, Thousands of Workers Clash with Police

Tens of thousands of textile workers in Bangladesh are demanding a 140% increase in the minimum wage, currently around $100 per month. Clashes with police continue for a fifth day, and concerns grow over supply disruptions to fashion retailers.

A violent wave of protests is shaking Bangladesh's textile industry, as thousands of workers took to the streets demanding higher wages, clashing with police and shutting down hundreds of factories. On the fifth day of protests, further clashes occurred in industrial areas near the capital Dhaka, with demonstrators blocking major roads and police using tear gas and stun grenades. At the heart of the protest is the workers' demand to raise the monthly minimum wage from 12,500 taka (about $100) to 30,000 taka (about $242) – a 140% increase, amid rising food, housing, and transportation costs. Workers claim their current wage does not allow them to live with dignity. In response, the government established a special six-member wage committee, which determined that a new wage structure will take effect in December, but has not yet set the amount of the increase. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment exporter after China, and the industry employs about four million people. The factory shutdowns come during a sensitive period of preparations for spring and summer collections. Factory owners warn of harm to competitiveness, while economists warn of greater damage due to shipment delays.