Factories Ablaze As Bangladesh Garment Workers Protest

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Angry Bangladeshi garment workers blocked roads, set factories alight and clashed with police for a third day on Monday as protests demanding a minimum monthly wage of $100 spread outside the capital Dhaka.

Abdul Baten, police chief of the Gazipur industrial district near Dhaka which is home to hundreds of factories, told AFP that “up to 200,000 workers” had joined the latest demonstrations.

His deputy Mustafizur Rahman said about 300 factories, which make clothing for top Western retailers such as Walmart, were shut on Monday to contain the violence as protesting workers attacked plants that stayed open.

“The situation is extremely volatile. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the unruly workers,” he told AFP, adding dozens of workers and several policemen were injured.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/23/factories-ablaze-as-bangladesh-garment-workers-protest/

[seveneyes]

1. Burning your factory is a bit extreme

That would seem to get one even further away from the desired goal.

[FreakinDJ]

2. if they can't pay living wage they're better gone

Most those worker have to sleep next to their work station they can't even afford rent

[seveneyes]

3. Oh I agree with their cause

The problem I see, as the number of factories are reduced, you will have more workers competing for fewer jobs which may drive wages down even more. Reducing greed among the moneyed would make for better wages.

[bemildred]

4. The problem is the rich will do nothing unless you burn their factory down first.

Sometimes even not then, because it's not really about the money, it's about control.

[FreakinDJ]

5. The profits are there - other factories will spring up

This isn't supply and demand. These are Monopolies controlled by a very few Rich Fat Fucks

[TBF]

6. Solidarity with the workers. nt

[PD Turk]

7. sounds like they've had enough

FFS they're asking for $100 a month and somebody thinks that's too much? It's criminal. I don't blame them one bit.... solidarity!!

[Brigid]

8. Who was it that said . . .

Power concedes nothing without a struggle? I am not normally the "burn baby burn" type, but clearly these workers are at the end of their rope.

[PD Turk]

9. Freedom's just another word

for nothing left to lose ...

[lonestarnot]

10. Sounds like they're sick of being abused by richie rich.