Dozens of clothing factories in Bangladesh's main production areas have been shut down by workers striking for a higher minimum wage. Across the textile hubs of Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur, nearly 150 sites were closed over the weekend.
Workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 taka (£182), stating that the current 12,500 taka is insufficient to cope with the cost of living crisis. The garment industry is a significant part of Bangladesh's economy, contributing nearly $40bn (£30bn) in exports each year and making up 10% of the country's total GDP.
On Sunday morning, workers blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur for approximately an hour before police intervened. Police Superintendent Mohammad Amjad Hossain reported that 13 factories were closed on Saturday night and a further 16 during Sunday morning's unrest.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) are calling for protection for factories. The BGMEA President, Mahmud Hasan Khan, stated that factories unable to continue production due to the unrest would remain indefinitely closed from Monday under Bangladesh's labour law, citing a "No Work No Pay" provision.