GARMENT workers in Bangladesh, who produce clothes for well-known brands including Asos, New Look and Zara, demand pay rises amid fears of starvation, The Guardian reported today.

Since last week, garment workers in Dhaka have been calling for a new minimum wage of 23,000 taka (RM971.01) per month, saying it would barely cover basic living costs, but factory owners sent proposals to the government for an increase to just 10,400 taka.

Monthly wages presently start at 8,300 taka.

Protesters told The Guardian anything less than 23,000 taka would condemn them to starvation.

“It is clear that there are huge profits being made on our backs. Even the 23,000 taka we are asking for wouldn’t be enough, but it would offer some kind of relief,” one of the protesters said.

Another protester, Rojina Akter, said she has had to “sneak into fields” on her way home “to hunt for vegetables to feed” her children, adding that “starvation is next”.

Bangladesh Labour and Employment Minister Monnujan Sufian reportedly said the government was considering garment workers’ requests for ration cards to help them get food.

Some fashion brands that use Bangladesh labour expressed support for pay hikes, but local labour rights groups argued the brands themselves would have to increase payments for their garment orders to make the higher wages possible. – Bernama, November 7, 2023.