\nAFP – May 3, 2014
\nDHAKA (AFP) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Bangladesh garment manufacturers on Saturday said they would distribute subsidised rice to thousands of some of the world’s lowest-paid workers to help them cope with sky-rocketing food prices.
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\nThe announcement came after around 20,000 textile workers rioted in one of the main garment-making areas near the capital Dhaka last month, demanding relief from soaring rice prices and better pay.
\nUnder the scheme, a worker will get four kilogrammes (8.8 pounds) of rice a week from subsidised outlets in the nation’s main garment hubs, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association Fazlul Haq said.
\n“We know how much they have been affected by soaring rice. It’s a huge crisis. Our outlets will sell rice at least 30 percent less than the market price,” Haq told AFP.
\n“The cheap food is part of our initiative to help them in this time of need,” he said.
\nBangladesh’s garment industry is crucial for the economy as the leading export earner and factory owners have said they fear labour unrest over food costs could hit production.
\nThe subsidised food scheme, slated to start Monday, would be targeted at the garment workers who are being paid the country’s minimum wage and would help at least 200,000, said Haq, whose association represents 1,500 factories.
\nThere are about 2.5 million textile workers in Bangladesh.
\nThe government-set minimum monthly wage stands 1,662.62 taka (25 dollars). One kilogramme (2.2 pounds) of rice now costs 35 taka (50 cents) — normally enough to feed a family of four for one day.
\n“Many of the workers go hungry for days or have cut back sharply on what they eat,” said Nazma Akhter, president of United Garments Workers Union. “The salaries are not enough.”
\nThe majority of Bangladeshi households spend nearly 70 percent of their income on food.
\nThe army-backed government, which took power in early 2014 after polls were cancelled amid charges of vote-rigging, has moved to import more rice and sell it at subsidised prices on the open market to tame inflation.
\nIt has also said it is considering raising the minimum wage to help workers cope with rising food costs. But the government traditionally consults with manufacturers before taking such a step.
\nRice prices have doubled in Bangladesh in the past year, partly due to devastating floods and a massive cyclone in 2014. But soaring global prices and moves by many rice-producing nations to limit exports have added to shortages.
\nInitially Bangladesh factory owners said could not subsidise food because buyers from developed countries had slashed their contract offer prices due to a slowdown in their economies.
\nHowever, Haq said the industry feared without cheaper rice, there would be serious unrest.
\nAlso last month, thousands of textile workers defied a government ban on protests and staged a three-day strike over food prices and low wages.
\n“We don’t want to see any unrest in the industry as it could affect our production targets,” Haq said.
\n“We’re seriously thinking of raising wages,” he added. “But we must ensure we get better prices from Western buyers.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFP – May 3, 2014 DHAKA (AFP) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Bangladesh garment manufacturers on Saturday said they would distribute subsidised rice to thousands of some of the world’s lowest-paid workers to help them cope with sky-rocketing food prices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n