Bangladesh protests halt production for top fashion brands: union

[Black_cats]

Bangladesh protests halt production for top fashion brands: union​

Dhaka (AFP) – Levi's and H&M are among top global clothing brands to suffer production halts in Bangladesh, a garment union leader said Friday, after days of violent protests by workers demanding a near-tripling of their wages.

Issued on: 03/11/2023 - 12:43
3 min

Bangladesh police (foreground) stand guard clashes with garment workers (top)demanding higher wages © Munir uz ZAMAN / AFP

Bangladesh's 3,500 garment factories account for around 85 percent of the South Asian country's $55 billion annual exports, supplying many of the world's top names in fashion.

But conditions are dire for many of the sector's four million workers, the vast majority of whom are women whose monthly wages start at 8,300 taka ($75).

Dozens of factories have been ransacked by striking workers, with several hundred others shuttered by their owners to avoid vandalism.



Among them are "many of the country's bigger factories, who make clothing for almost all major Western brands and retailers," Kalpona Akter, president of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF), told AFP.

"They include Gap, Walmart, H&M, Zara, Inditex, Bestseller, Levi's, Marks and Spencer, Primark and Aldi," she added.

There was no immediate confirmation from the brands Akter named of disruptions to their production in Bangladesh.

Manufacturers whose factories have been damaged in the protests are reluctant to give the names of brands they work with, fearing the loss of orders from buyers.

Police said at least 300 factories had been shut down in the weeklong protests, which have so far left two workers dead and dozens more injured.

Dozens of factories have been ransacked by striking workers, with several hundred others shuttered by their owners to avoid vandalism © Munir uz zaman / AFP
Akter said her union had counted around 600 affected factories.

Protests continued on Friday with thousands of garment workers mobilising on the streets of industrial neighbourhoods around the capital Dhaka.

Around 3,000 workers attempted to block their colleagues from joining a factory shift after two major manufacturers -- HaMeem and Sterling groups -- reopened their plants.

"Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters," a police inspector charged with monitoring the protests, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

"The two companies declared a holiday for the day and their 25,000 workers went home."

'Won't help their cause'​

Garment workers say that a sharp increase in living costs has left them struggling to provide for their families.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), which represents factory owners, has offered workers a 25 percent pay raise.

That is significantly short of the 23,000 taka ($209) monthly wage that the protest campaign has called for.

Garment workers say that a sharp increase in living costs has left them struggling to provide for their families © Munir uz ZAMAN / AFP
Police said manufacturers in Gazipur, Dhaka's biggest industrial hub that saw the worst of this week's violence, had decided to reopen their plants from Saturday to make up for lost shifts.

"We will deploy nearly 3,000 police and border guards to prevent any violence," Gazipur police chief Sarwar Alam told AFP.

He urged the workers to stop the violence and find a solution through dialogue.

"I think the demands of workers are logical. But taking the law into their own hands won't help their cause," Alam added.

The protests have coincided with separate violent demonstrations by opposition parties demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of elections due in January.

Bangladesh protests halt production for top fashion brands: union

Levi's and H&M are among top global clothing brands to suffer production halts in Bangladesh, a garment union leader said Friday, after days of violent protests by workers demanding a near-tripling of…

www.france24.com

 

[@blue Ocean]

Bangladesh protests halt production for top fashion brands: union​

Dhaka (AFP) – Levi's and H&M are among top global clothing brands to suffer production halts in Bangladesh, a garment union leader said Friday, after days of violent protests by workers demanding a near-tripling of their wages.

Issued on: 03/11/2023 - 12:43
3 min

Bangladesh police (foreground) stand guard clashes with garment workers (top)demanding higher wages © Munir uz ZAMAN / AFP

Bangladesh's 3,500 garment factories account for around 85 percent of the South Asian country's $55 billion annual exports, supplying many of the world's top names in fashion.

But conditions are dire for many of the sector's four million workers, the vast majority of whom are women whose monthly wages start at 8,300 taka ($75).

Dozens of factories have been ransacked by striking workers, with several hundred others shuttered by their owners to avoid vandalism.



Among them are "many of the country's bigger factories, who make clothing for almost all major Western brands and retailers," Kalpona Akter, president of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF), told AFP.

"They include Gap, Walmart, H&M, Zara, Inditex, Bestseller, Levi's, Marks and Spencer, Primark and Aldi," she added.

There was no immediate confirmation from the brands Akter named of disruptions to their production in Bangladesh.

Manufacturers whose factories have been damaged in the protests are reluctant to give the names of brands they work with, fearing the loss of orders from buyers.

Police said at least 300 factories had been shut down in the weeklong protests, which have so far left two workers dead and dozens more injured.

Dozens of factories have been ransacked by striking workers, with several hundred others shuttered by their owners to avoid vandalism © Munir uz zaman / AFP
Akter said her union had counted around 600 affected factories.

Protests continued on Friday with thousands of garment workers mobilising on the streets of industrial neighbourhoods around the capital Dhaka.

Around 3,000 workers attempted to block their colleagues from joining a factory shift after two major manufacturers -- HaMeem and Sterling groups -- reopened their plants.

"Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters," a police inspector charged with monitoring the protests, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

"The two companies declared a holiday for the day and their 25,000 workers went home."

'Won't help their cause'​

Garment workers say that a sharp increase in living costs has left them struggling to provide for their families.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), which represents factory owners, has offered workers a 25 percent pay raise.

That is significantly short of the 23,000 taka ($209) monthly wage that the protest campaign has called for.

Garment workers say that a sharp increase in living costs has left them struggling to provide for their families © Munir uz ZAMAN / AFP
Police said manufacturers in Gazipur, Dhaka's biggest industrial hub that saw the worst of this week's violence, had decided to reopen their plants from Saturday to make up for lost shifts.

"We will deploy nearly 3,000 police and border guards to prevent any violence," Gazipur police chief Sarwar Alam told AFP.

He urged the workers to stop the violence and find a solution through dialogue.

"I think the demands of workers are logical. But taking the law into their own hands won't help their cause," Alam added.

The protests have coincided with separate violent demonstrations by opposition parties demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of elections due in January.

Bangladesh protests halt production for top fashion brands: union

Levi's and H&M are among top global clothing brands to suffer production halts in Bangladesh, a garment union leader said Friday, after days of violent protests by workers demanding a near-tripling of…

www.france24.com

A dollar now costs 111Taka and it was 84 Taka before. Garment owners are getting money at the new exchange rate. It is about 33% higher than before.

But Owners are unwilling to share the additional profits with the workers. Very unfortunate.

@IndianLite, do you really understand this small arithmetic? Are you a dumb like your Mulla friend?

 

[khansaheeb]

Bangladesh protests halt production for top fashion brands: union​

Dhaka (AFP) – Levi's and H&M are among top global clothing brands to suffer production halts in Bangladesh, a garment union leader said Friday, after days of violent protests by workers demanding a near-tripling of their wages.

Issued on: 03/11/2023 - 12:43
3 min

Bangladesh police (foreground) stand guard clashes with garment workers (top)demanding higher wages © Munir uz ZAMAN / AFP

Bangladesh's 3,500 garment factories account for around 85 percent of the South Asian country's $55 billion annual exports, supplying many of the world's top names in fashion.

But conditions are dire for many of the sector's four million workers, the vast majority of whom are women whose monthly wages start at 8,300 taka ($75).

Dozens of factories have been ransacked by striking workers, with several hundred others shuttered by their owners to avoid vandalism.



Among them are "many of the country's bigger factories, who make clothing for almost all major Western brands and retailers," Kalpona Akter, president of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF), told AFP.

"They include Gap, Walmart, H&M, Zara, Inditex, Bestseller, Levi's, Marks and Spencer, Primark and Aldi," she added.

There was no immediate confirmation from the brands Akter named of disruptions to their production in Bangladesh.

Manufacturers whose factories have been damaged in the protests are reluctant to give the names of brands they work with, fearing the loss of orders from buyers.

Police said at least 300 factories had been shut down in the weeklong protests, which have so far left two workers dead and dozens more injured.

Dozens of factories have been ransacked by striking workers, with several hundred others shuttered by their owners to avoid vandalism © Munir uz zaman / AFP
Akter said her union had counted around 600 affected factories.

Protests continued on Friday with thousands of garment workers mobilising on the streets of industrial neighbourhoods around the capital Dhaka.

Around 3,000 workers attempted to block their colleagues from joining a factory shift after two major manufacturers -- HaMeem and Sterling groups -- reopened their plants.

"Police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters," a police inspector charged with monitoring the protests, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

"The two companies declared a holiday for the day and their 25,000 workers went home."

'Won't help their cause'​

Garment workers say that a sharp increase in living costs has left them struggling to provide for their families.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), which represents factory owners, has offered workers a 25 percent pay raise.

That is significantly short of the 23,000 taka ($209) monthly wage that the protest campaign has called for.

Garment workers say that a sharp increase in living costs has left them struggling to provide for their families © Munir uz ZAMAN / AFP
Police said manufacturers in Gazipur, Dhaka's biggest industrial hub that saw the worst of this week's violence, had decided to reopen their plants from Saturday to make up for lost shifts.

"We will deploy nearly 3,000 police and border guards to prevent any violence," Gazipur police chief Sarwar Alam told AFP.

He urged the workers to stop the violence and find a solution through dialogue.

"I think the demands of workers are logical. But taking the law into their own hands won't help their cause," Alam added.

The protests have coincided with separate violent demonstrations by opposition parties demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of elections due in January.

Bangladesh protests halt production for top fashion brands: union

Levi's and H&M are among top global clothing brands to suffer production halts in Bangladesh, a garment union leader said Friday, after days of violent protests by workers demanding a near-tripling of…

www.france24.com

Seems like it was a fake boom in Bangladesh based on exploitation of workers.

 

[IndianLite]

A dollar now costs 111Taka and it was 84 Taka before. Garment owners are getting money at the new exchange rate. It is about 33% higher than before.

But Owners are unwilling to share the additional profits with the workers. Very unfortunate.

@IndianLite, do you really understand this small arithmetic? Are you a dumb like your Mulla friend?

Yes! I am going to take lessons from a poorly educated hard hat man!!

 

[@blue Ocean]

Yes! I am going to take lessons from a poorly educated hard hat man!!

A dollar now costs 111Taka and it was 84 Taka before. Garment owners are getting money at the new exchange rate. It is about 25% higher than before.

But Owners are unwilling to share the additional profits with the workers. Very unfortunate.

@IndianLite, do you really understand this small arithmetic? Are you a dumb like your Mulla friend?

So, please, please teach me history, math, science, chemistry, physics, algebra, geometry, calculus, logarithm, astrophysics, speed of light, what is a black hole, and thousand others.

But, do not break your teeth when you start memorizing and do not break your fingers when you copy paste in the exam hall. I know you even do not know what are these subjects. How about Economics for National Development?

Study these subjects and then come with the solution for X in the algebraic equation I asked you to solve. I know, an idiot like you will break his head to understand the Formula to solve it.

So, which formula is this? Bloody big talking Class lV student!!

 

[saif]

For some reason I smell RAW's involvement in this street agitation by the garment workers.

 

[Talha Ali]

This can trigger a serious underwear shortage worldwide.

 

[nahtanbob]

@Bilal9 our resident expert ? any comments

Bangladesh: Garment workers' strike and related protest campaign likely to continue in Dhaka through at least early November​

Garment workers' strike, protests likely to persist in Dhaka, Bangladesh, through at least early November. Clashes, disruptions reported.​

Unionized garment workers will likely continue their indefinite strike and related protest campaign in Dhaka through at least early November to demand higher wages. In recent days, thousands of strike participants have commenced a work stoppage and held various types of demonstrations, prompting over 300 factories across Dhaka to temporarily suspend operations. Activists have protested outside several factories, transportation depots, and along some thoroughfares, prompting localized transport disruptions. Reports indicate protesters previously committed vandalism and blocked roadways, such as the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, in the Gazipur and Mirpur areas. Isolated clashes have also erupted between police and activists, with officials resorting to force, including tear gas, on some occasions.

Additional diverse gatherings are certain to occur over the coming days. Potential gathering sites include Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) offices, garment factories, transportation hubs, police stations, as well as prominent government buildings, public squares, and thoroughfares. Well-attended gatherings will probably attract thousands of participants. Organizers may suspend or temporarily delay the labor action if they perceive the employers to be meeting their demands.

Authorities are maintaining an increased security presence in several industrial areas, particularly in the Abdullahpur, Ashulia, Gazipur, Mirpur, Rampura, Savar, and Tongi areas. Officials may implement enhanced security measures, including temporary public movement restrictions, depending on the severity of the perceived threat. Additional clashes between police and activists and isolated security incidents cannot be ruled out. Further localized transport and business disruptions are likely.

 

[@blue Ocean]

@nahtanbob, very long post as before that no one has time to read. You should know this,

However, Hartal will continue and workers must reap the benefits of a weaker dollar.

 

[StraightEdge]

This can't be good for Hasina.

 

[nahtanbob]

@nahtanbob, very long post as before that no one has time to read. You should know this,

However, Hartal will continue and workers must reap the benefits of a weaker dollar.

Not sure where the money is going ?

 

[saif]

This can trigger a serious underwear shortage worldwide.

We make underwear only for those people who need it. Indians don't need underwear because they don't have penis.

 

[@blue Ocean]

Not sure where the money is going ?

BD has little system under Hasina or any govt. people who earn big money via political connections pay little tax. And they take it out to Europe and America.

So, dollar rate is so high because of this continuous flying out of dollars.

 

[Talha Ali]

We make underwear only for those people who need it. Indians don't need underwear because they don't have penis.

lmao go back to your sweatshop lungiman.

 

[nahtanbob]

BD has little system under Hasina or any govt. people who earn big money via political connections pay little tax. And they take it out to Europe and America.

So, dollar rate is so high because of this continuous flying out of dollars.

Bangladesh textile exports is $45 billion.
Subtract the cost of materials and electricity
the rest is taxes, labor and profits for the capital invested

What is the breakdown here ?