The ongoing agitation by workers engaged in Bangladesh’s readymade garment manufacturing sector entered the second week with clashes between the protesters and the police being reported even on Sunday.
Police had to reportedly use water cannons and tear gas in an effort to disperse the striking workers.
“The workers barricaded the highway; we had to drive them away to ease traffic conditions. So far 52 factories, including some big ones, have shut down operations due to the protests.” – Sana Shaminur Rahman, Director of Industrial Police, AFP
It may be mentioned here that one worker was killed on Tuesday after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at some 5,000 protesting workers.
The continuing protest of the garment workers has reportedly led the Government to convene a tripartite meeting (involving workers’ representatives, factory owners and Government officials) on Sunday, which reportedly decided to hike wage in six grades while leaving the minimum monthly pay unchanged at Taka 8,000.
“The revised wage board, effective from Dec 1, 2018, will be adjusted from February this year,” maintained Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi after the meeting while underlining that the gazette on the revised wage board will be published within a week.
