Bangladesh Feminist Archives

Pay Garment Workers Their Due Wages!

Bangladesh Feminist Archives stands in solidarity with the Garment Workers’ Movement.

Garment workers are one of the pillars of the Bangladeshi economy, with the RMG (Ready-Made Garments) industry being one of the largest export sectors. However, their success has been marred by continuous misery, particularly with regard to unpaid labor. Workers often go without regular payment throughout the year, with delays of several months being common. The situation becomes even more precarious during Eid, the largest religious festival in the country.

This year has been no exception, as workers from various factories have taken to the streets to demand their rightful dues. Alarmingly, many factories have withheld workers’ payments for up to 14 months. According to the latest data, 122 factories have yet to pay their workers their due wages, while 723 factories have failed to provide bonuses.

During the protests, workers and student protesters showing solidarity have faced brutal violence from the police. This level of violence is unacceptable in a civilized state.

We, Bangladesh Feminist Archives, stand in solidarity with the workers in their just demands for proper payment and bonuses. We urge the state to intervene and hold factory owners accountable for their failure to provide workers with their rightful wages.