GARMENT WORKERS OF DHAKA PROTESTING FOR A LIVABLE WAGE
The astonishingly low $75 (8,300 taka) monthly minimum wage for Bangladeshi garment workers has them living well below the poverty line, forcing themselves and their families to hardly survive. Due to these exceptionally low wages, it is no surprise that Bangladesh is the leading country used for fast-fashion industrial manufacturing, as this employment expense for major companies is essentially nothing. Consequently, although the textile revenue earned from such work is over $55 billion, Bangladeshi garment workers are granted a limited percentage of this profit.
In 2023, 25,000 garment workers in Bangladesh protested for their minimum wage to be increased to $208 per month. However, the Bangladeshi Government quickly responded with an offer of $90, to which they then increased their bid to $113. However, this price tag still could not meet a basic lifestyle, as the astronomically high 9.9% inflation rate has caused necessary goods such as food to be unattainable with this salary. These protests are in response to the government's neglect of their citizens' lives. The response to these protests had workers fired from their jobs, as well as the shutdown of countless factories. In addition to the unlivable minimum wage, these garment workers are exposed to detrimental chemicals used in these fast-fashion factories that cause major illnesses. These garment workers are unable to be treated by base-level health care. Quite frankly, this is a representation of a cyclical system that will eventually lead to major deaths and a reduction in Bangladesh's exports that are primary to their economy. What is happening to these workers is completely unethical and very scary, and will in the long run leave many jobless, which is clearly shown through how 600 factories are already temporarily closed due to these protests.
As quoted by a Bangladeshi garment worker, “The latest pay increase offer will hardly help us. What we are getting now with over time can barely meet our demand for rent and food essentials let alone other expenses that I have like sending money home to my in-laws or for my children’s education." It is unimaginable that these people work all day in terrible conditions to not even be able to pay for a basic way of life. Most of those suffering have been unable to pay for necessary goods, let alone eat on a daily basis.
For families, education is not even an option as their financial instability is unable to afford such luxury. Overall, this places a barrier on escaping this lifestyle, as these children without education will only be granted a low-paying job in a similar, if not the same, industry as their parents.
Bangladesh police have been present at many of these mass protests in Dhaka, but not for a supportive purpose, as their job is to protect the Bangladeshi Government. Tear gas has been used on those protesting, and has even resulted in the death of many. Police inspector Nayan Karkon spoke on behalf of law enforcement, stating that they apologize for any accidental fatalities and that this is ultimately not theirs to blame as the protests were initiated by the factory workers. This apology is questionable, as these protests have not been incited for the mere purpose of vocalizing an issue, but rather because it is necessary to secure the survival of these workers.
Bangladesh is the hub supplier for the textile industry, notably fast fashion. Fast fashion is fueled by cheap clothing produced at a speed to stay up to date with the present clothing trends. What allows the clothing to be cheap is both the low wages of their factory workers as well as inexpensive supplies and materials which are in their own right quite environmentally harmful. Therefore, when detrimental to the environment, the safety of everyday citizens is also at risk. In general, this industry is very dangerous for garment workers. Risks include exposure to hazardous chemicals that cause illness, poor air circulation within the mills/factories, no break periods to breathe outside air, long shifts, etc. Throughout the years, there have been many tragic stories related to garment workers in Bangladesh, one being the Rana Plaza collapse of 2013, exposing the immoral and radical practices mentioned above. Exposing Bangladesh’s terrible factory manners has fortunately opened the gate for people to gain insight into the issue of forced labor, low wages, hazardous exposure, and mistreatment of garment workers all around the globe. This issue must be stopped, and that must be soon.
WORK CITED
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