Catherwood LibraryILR School

Garment workers in Bangladesh are demanding a 140% increase in the monthly minimum wage, from 12,500 taka to 30,000 taka, as rising living costs fuel protests across the country's apparel industry. Demonstrations and clashes with police have forced hundreds of factories to suspend production, threatening shipments during a critical period for international clothing retailers. The industry employs approximately four million workers and accounts for more than 80% of Bangladesh's export earnings, making the dispute economically significant. While manufacturers warn that substantial wage increases could undermine the country's competitiveness, labor advocates argue that workers deserve a greater share of the industry's economic output.