Why are Bangladesh garment workers demanding a $240 monthly wage?

BBC Dhaka bureau chief Mir Sabbir said garment workers want pay more than doubled from about $100 a month to around $240, because inflation of 8% to 9%, forecast to pass 10%, and higher fuel and electricity prices make $100 hard to live on. Protests turned violent and at one point more than 500 factories in Dhaka closed. A new pay review board was formed, but workers fear it will take too long.

Garments make up more than 80% of Bangladesh's exports, and many of the workers are women.
The last wage board took about two months to send the government a proposal.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Global News Podcast (2026-11-03). Read the whole episode summary →

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