DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) More than 200 Bangladesh garment factories reopened Thursday after the country's prime minister stepped in to resolve clashes over minimum wages.
The end of the 4-day shutdown came after factory owners met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina late Wednesday and agreed to a 77 percent increase in the minimum wage for new unskilled garment workers to 5,300 takas ($66) a month.
A government-appointed panel last week voted to raise the basic wage to 5,300 takas, still the lowest minimum wage in the world, but owners refused to implement the increase and shutdown manufacturing while workers clashed with police and attacked factories. Workers demanded 8,114 takas ($100).
Bangladesh is the second-largest garment manufacturer after China and earns more than $20 billion a year from exports, mainly to the United States and Europe. The industry employs about 4 million workers, mostly women.
The industry has come under scrutiny for its often harsh and unsafe working conditions after the collapse of a building housing garment factories killed more than 1,100 people in April and a fire last November killed 112 workers. Global brands, factory owners and the government have pledged to work together to improve conditions.
