Bangladesh garment factories close as workers clash with police in pay protests
Police have clashed with garment workers demanding higher minimum wages in Bangladesh, where days of protests have disrupted an industry that employs about 4 million people DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Police in Bangladesh fired tear gas and used stun grenades on Wednesday to disperse garment workers protesting for higher wages, police and witnesses said. Hundreds of factories remained shut after days of protests disrupted the country’s garment industry, which earns about $40 billion a year from exports. Bangladesh has some 2,500 garment factories. Workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 takas ($245), up from 12,500 takas. They say rising living costs and inflation have eroded their purchasing power.
