Bangladesh’s New Wage is Still a Poverty Wage

By Bonnie Stinson, Intern, SweatFree Communities

Today in Bangladesh, a new minimum wage increase is due to go into effect, following lengthy negotiations between the government, workers, and factory owners. The agreement was originally made on July 30, 2010, and it arrived on the heels of widespread protests throughout the region that received a great deal of international coverage.

Some papers are reporting this initiative as a remarkable success, noting certain unions’ acceptance of this wage increase, and as an advance in the broader workers’ rights movement to achieve a decent wage. But workers are saying it’s not enough.

The agreement promises an increase from 1,662.50 taka ($24) per month to 3,000 taka ($43) per month, which may seem like a monumental increase from outside Bangladesh. But in Bangladesh, a worker with a family of average size (4.8 members) who works a typical 10 hour work day will require 11,282 taka per month just to feed herself and her family members. This excludes necessary allowances for rent, transportation, or healthcare.

“Enemies of the Nation or Human Rights Defenders? Fighting Poverty Wages in Bangladesh,” is a new report on the subject, released today by SweatFree Communities, a program of the International Labor Rights Forum. The report details the ongoing battle for adequate wages and decent working conditions in Bangladesh and shines a light on the urgent need for justice for labor rights advocates.

Accompanying the release of the report is a call to action. To learn more and take action, click here. U.S. retailers, Bangladeshi factories, and the Bangladeshi government all need to take responsibility for ensuring garment workers receive a living wage and are free to organize. By acting now, you will help us send a loud and clear message to these parties.

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for a challenge to your views, please consider this article: The Fallacy of "Child-Labor-Free"

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