The International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) was among several labor activists groups that met yesterday to rally at the Embassy of Bangladesh to urge the government to release Kalpona Akter and Babul Ahkter, leaders of the peaceful labor activist organization the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity (BCSW), who were detained last month in connection with the recent labor protests.
Jeff Vogt, Associate Director of AFL-CIO’s International Department and rally organizer, approached the Bangladeshi representative with a letter to the Bangladeshi government requesting that the police stop the harassment and persecution of labor activists. The representative who affirmed the protesters that they did not have both sides of the issue; an apathetic “we will look into it” was their response.
Workers in the Bangladesh garment industry are paid 20 cents an hour and often face hazardous working conditions that have lead to the death of several workers. Recently the government-appointed wage board raised the minimum wage for Bangladesh workers in the garment industry to $43 USD a month. Some labor unions accepted this while others were not satisfied because they had originally called for a wage of $72 USD a month. As a result, disappointed labor unions organized protests in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, to voice their discontent. Prices for goods are on the rise and the pitiful wages they earn is not enough to live decently. Unfortunately, the protests turned violent and the police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. All that workers are asking is $29 dollars more every month and yet there requests are declined.
Many peaceful labor activists groups such as BCWS are being targeted by the government as inciting the violence. However, neither Kalpona Akter nor Babul Ahkter was involved in these acts. The Bangladesh companies increasing power and high demand in the labor market makes it difficult for workers in poor countries like Bangladesh to achieve pay increases. Nevertheless, ILRF will continue to support Bangladeshi workers right to fair wages. Click on these online actions to stand in solidarity with Bangladesh workers:
2) Call on the Bangladeshi government to release Kalpona and Babul immediately, to reinstate BCWS's NGO status, and to cease all harassment of BCWS.
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