AFX News Limited
European, US buyers urge quick solution to Bangladesh garmen
Forbes
DHAKA (XFN-ASIA) – European and US retailers have written to the Bangladesh government urging it to find a speedy solution to unrest in the garment sector following violent riots by workers, the English-language New Age reported.
Rioting workers demanding higher wages last month torched 16 factories and ransacked hundreds of others. At least two people were killed and scores injured after security officers shot at workers.
‘We, the majority of foreign buying organizations of ready-made garments of Bangladesh are deeply concerned over the situation,’ the daily quoted the letter, signed by 11 US and European buyers, as saying.
It urged the government to solve the dispute in the ‘shortest possible time through dialogue between the industry’s stakeholders’.
Workers last month went back to work after employers agreed to fix a minimum wage for the industry.
But sporadic low-level unrest has continued despite a memorandum of understanding signed last week by the government, workers and employers.
The agreement promised new rights including paid days off and the fixing of a minimum wage within three months.
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