Throughout 2023, the militant garment worker unions in Bangladesh have been campaigning for a living wage of 25,000 Bangladeshi Taka per month – about $232USD. That campaign reached its crescendo in late 2023 when the government announced an increase to the minimum wage to 10,400 Taka. Workers took the streets and the government quickly increased the minimum wage again to 12,500 Taka. However, this is only half a living wage. Militant unions organised strikes and stoppages against these attacks on workers. In Bangladesh, an industrial police armed to the teeth confronts workers in the streets. With them are goons and thugs hired by the garment companies and ruling political parties. In October and November they murdered at least 5 workers who were engaging in strikes and protests. The fight for a living wage is a matter of life and death. We stand in solidarity with every garment worker and ever militant union like our friends in the Garment Workers Unity Forum, the Garment Workers ACTION TASLIMA AKHTER Taslima Akhter is a photojournalist and activist. She was onsite in the immediate aftermath of the collapse, and bore witness to the horrors that ensued over the following days, weeks, months and years. Taslima has captured some of the most iconic images of the Rana Plaza collapse, and these have been featured in many exhibitions the world over. Taslima is the current President of the BGWS. Read More 01 / 12 Thursday April 27 to Wednesday 3 May 2023. Trade Union Centre, the Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity and the Garment Workers Liberation Movement who organise under the banner The Garment Workers’ Movement for Wage Increase. Our friends have called on France to stop supplying arms and surveillance technology which is used against unions and workers. We support their demand. We also call on all those who exploit woefully paid Bangladeshi Garment Workers like Kmart, Best & Less, Big W and so many others to immediately intervene and stop the murders done in their name. It is these buyers which demand unsustainable prices delivered on the blood and death of Bangladeshi workers. We join the call that Workers of the World, Unite! Solidarity Forever. LIVING WAGES A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH Family of murdered worker, Anjuara Khatun Garment Workers Rally for Living Wages THE SYMPOSIUM: FAST FASHION KILLS As a part of the program, RAFFWU, Australia Asia Worker Link (AAWL), the RTBU and VTHC co-hosted a public meeting called Fast Fashion Kills. The meeting was designed to discuss various strategies for organising workers in the international garment supply chain. Although many challenges exist in relation to organising in the garment supply chain, the meeting overwhelmingly agreed it was worth a shot. Our keynote speakers were: Rupali Akter – Health Secretary, BGWS Taslima Akhter – President, BGWS Jiselle Hanna – Secretary, AAWL Jenny Kruschel – TCF National Secretary, CFMEU Manufacturing Division Mon Mulveney – Activist and garment seller, RAFFWU If you’d like to get involved, send us an email to aawl@aawl.org.au. Scan the QR code to find more info, including a full report of Rupali and Taslima's visit >> 29
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