Reuters reports today on clashes between police and garment workers (who are mostly women) in Bangladesh during a second day of protests for higher wages. Over 100 people were injured today when garment workers attacked factories and vehicles during the continuing protests. Police fired rubber bullets and used teargas and batons against workers blocking roads in the capital Dhaka's suburbs.
Authorities have been quick to condemn the protesters, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina quoted as saying, "Who will benefit if the (garment) industry is destroyed? The workers should not involve themselves in any activity that might put their own source of bread at risk."
An accompanying report in Today online states that the garment workers involved produce clothing for labels that will be all too familiar on our local high streets, including Walmart (who own Asda) and Marks and Spencer. So whilst this may seem like an international issue, one might say the roots of the dissent stretch as far as our very own wardrobes...
