Bangladesh will mostly resist garment workers’ demands

Subject

Labour unrest in Bangladesh's garment sector.

Significance

Union leaders earlier this month said several thousand garment workers had been sacked after recent strikes demanding higher wages, which came despite an increase in the minimum wage. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League (AL) government, which won a third consecutive term following December’s general election, is relying on a robust ready-made garments sector to help drive economic growth.

Impacts

• Dhaka will benefit from China-US trade rivalry, drawing more US buyers for Bangladesh’s ready-made garments.
• Bangladesh will increase garment exports to emerging markets such as Turkey and Russia.
• Globally, there will be rising awareness of the environmental impact of 'fast fashion'.