Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) strongly condemns the ongoing attacks, intimidation, arrests, and criminalization of garment workers and trade union leaders in Bangladesh amid their collective mobilization demanding a minimum wage increase. We call on the government, employers, and all relevant authorities to take immediate, concrete measures to end the repression and to respond to workers’ demands through dialogue and justice. Over the past week thousands of garment workers have taken to the streets in key industrial areas in Ashulia, Gazipur, Mirpur and Savar to demand the formation of the Minimum Wage Board and a minimum wage of BDT 30,000. What began as legitimate protest over wages and rights violations has been met with attacks, harassment, arrests and false cases against workers and trade union leaders.

Read the statement here: English