Bangladesh Garment Wage Board Agrees to Raise Minimum Pay After Protests

Bangladesh's garment wage board agreed to raise minimum pay in the key export sector following five days of protests and clashes. Tens of thousands of workers marched through industrial areas demanding higher wages, leading to confrontations with police. Kamrul Hasan, a union leader, noted that many workers were unsure what the announcement meant, while Mahmudul Hasan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, urged workers to return to work.

The dispute took place in Bangladesh, the world's second-biggest garment exporter. The wage board agreement reflects longstanding tensions in the industry, which employs more than four million people and is a critical export sector.