Hundreds of thousands of garment workers in Bangladesh staged the largest protest in years on Monday, demanding a doubling of their monthly minimum wage. The demonstrations, which saw workers block major highways and clash with police, have shut hundreds of factories across the country. The sector, which accounts for 80% of Bangladesh’s export earnings—reaching $40 billion annually—remains the largest formal employer in the nation, with around 4 million workers.
Protesters in Gazipur, north of Dhaka, blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, vandalizing vehicles and confronting law enforcement. The movement, which has spread across industrial hubs, highlights growing tensions in the sector. Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest garment exporter after China, produces clothing for major international brands. Workers are demanding a minimum wage more than double the current rate, citing unsustainable living conditions and rising costs.
The garment industry has long been a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s economy, but recent years have seen increased scrutiny over labor conditions and safety standards. This latest wave of protests underscores deepening concerns among workers, who argue their wages have not kept pace with inflation or the cost of living. While no immediate resolution has been announced, the scale of the demonstrations signals a significant shift in labor dynamics within the sector.
