A garment worker from Bangladesh was killed in a pay protest clash

A horrible event occurred in Bangladesh when a textile worker was killed during violent demonstrations for unpaid wages. To break up the groups of workers who were adamantly opposing a salary increase, the police used rubber bullets and tear gas.

Law enforcement in the garment cluster of Gazipur, which is situated outside of the capital city of Dhaka, disclosed on Wednesday that they needed to move decisively. In protest, hundreds of workers had marched to the streets and started throwing stones.

Clashes had been lethal over the course of a week as tensions had been building. The government’s promise of a 56% salary raise served as the catalyst for the workers’ rage. But the workers, supported by labor organizations, quickly rejected this idea because they felt it was insufficient.

The government had declared that, as of December 1, the minimum wage will increase by 56.25 percent to 12,500 taka (about $114) per month. This was the first rise in the previous five years. Even still, the workers remained steadfast in their discontent, especially given that the rate of inflation had risen to 9.5%.

Their demand was quite clear: they wanted their pay to rise by almost three times. Workers expressed their dissatisfaction after recent violent protests. Munna Khan, one employee, stressed that the raise was not enough, particularly in light of the steep increase in the cost of necessities and skyrocketing rents.

Four million people are employed by Bangladesh’s 4,000 factories, which are home to the country’s thriving garment industry, mostly due to low salaries. Because these facilities produce well-known labels like H&M and GAP, readymade clothing is essential to the nation’s economy. In actuality, this sector contributes close to 16% of the GDP of the country.

The untimely death of a textile worker during these demonstrations is a sobering reminder of the persistent problem of poor salaries in Bangladesh’s crucial clothing industry. It draws attention to the enormous difficulties experienced by employees in a vital sector that is vital to the nation’s economy.