08 October 2018 Hunger strike against hunger wages – solidarity with Bangladeshi workers! 16,000 Taka and no less: Workers in Bangladesh have been protesting for months for a fairer minimum wage.Photo: © NGWF After a long struggle for an increase in the catastrophically low minimum wage in the Bangladeshi clothing industry, the responsible Commission has now announced the future minimum wage in September: 8,000 Taka (approximately €82) – half of what local trade unions demanded! The total amount is not only far below a credible living wage estimate, but can de facto hardly be regarded as an actual increase, but rather as a compensation for inflation over the past five years. In response to this much too low minimum wage, seamstresses in Bangladesh are now entering the labour market. Hunger strike for fairer wages, FEMNET's partner organization, the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), announced today. NGWF, Bangladesh's largest trade union for the garment sector, explained workers' demands at a press conference: The declared wage must be increased: The minimum wage of 16,000 Taka demanded by the workers would be at least an alignment with the wages of neighbouring countries as well as with other sectors of the country (Figures on this, see the PM of NGWF, PDF file), all of which are significantly less economically important for Bangladesh than the clothing industry. The wages of all workers must be increased: The declared wage of 8,000 Taka applies only to a certain group of workers (‘helpers’), who make up only 3% to 5% of the total workforce of a clothing factory. The Commission must also immediately set the increased minimum wages for other workers! More money for overtime:The wage structure must counteract the practice of massive overtime to ensure the health and safety of workers. The minimum wage for women garment workers in Bangladesh consists of a basic wage and several allowances. While the basic wage in previous years was 60 percent of the minimum wage, it is now only 51 percent. The new minimum wage increases the share of allowances at the expense of the basic wage and thus has the exact opposite effect: It makes overtime even cheaper for employers than before. "We consider the minimum wage now set unacceptable and support the demands of the trade unions," says Gisela Burckhardt, Chairwoman of FEMNET. "International and German fashion companies have repeatedly expressed their support for a living wage and for fair negotiations with legitimate trade unions, so that they can now neither approve a minimum wage of 8,000 Taka, nor a wage structure that is strongly rejected by legitimate representatives of the workers!" FEMNET and the Clean Clothing Campaign demand that clothing brands publicly and concretely demonstrate that they meet their own ethical standards and ensure respect for human rights in their supply chains, including the right to a living wage. If brands are serious about supporting fair wages and a fair negotiation process, now is the crucial moment to publicly support Bangladeshi workers and their unions. Show solidarity with the workers in Bangladesh and stand up for the fight for better wages: Unser Solidarity Fund supports NGWF and local workers. Status: 08.10.2018
