It is vital to be aware of what else is happening in the world. I want to shed light to the garment protesters in Bangladesh which is notorious for being one of the largest textile industries in the world. However, it is also known for the unfair treatment of workers as well as the unfair pay. Over recent years there has been a lot of discussion about the effects the clothing industry has on the environment, but it is important to note the source of this issue and the problems surrounding it. The main one being the wages the garment workers are being paid, and with 4.4 million workers, most of them women, the treatment they receive.
Over the past few years there has been considerable progress in making people aware of the impact fashion and clothing have on the environment, yet not enough has been done to put the promises into action. Quite frankly the fashion industry has been glamourised and normalised to such an extent that most people are unfazed with the horrific effects it has- whether that be the unhealthy beauty routines of models, or the unfair wages garment workers are being paid. It is evident that people are either intentionally ignorant of how it affects us. Or genuinely unaware, which then makes it my duty to make you aware! Out of curiosity I began asking students around college if they know anything about the impact of fashion on the environment. 70% of them said they don’t, and the other 30% only knew about fast fashion but not about the horrendous landfills and pollution it causes. In Bangladesh especially, water pollution is extremely common with factories washing textiles and other materials, then dumping the intoxicated, water which is the main water source for many civilians.
The treatment of the environment is mirrored in the treatment of the garment workers as the big textile companies fail to provide decent working conditions on top of the unjust pay workers receive. A survey conducted by the Aberdeen University of Business School stated that out of 1000 factories 1 in 5 struggled to pay the minimum wage of £2.30 a day! This is one of the main reasons why the garment workers have taken to the streets in protest, and rightfully so with the current minimum wage a month being £60.Many of the workers are finding themselves struggling to provide food, clothing and even shelter, especially with inflation and cost of living. Trade unions are asking for the minimum to be increased to £168 a month to give the workers a chance to lead a good life. The president of the Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, Nazma Akter states “It’s very hard for garment workers, they’re working long hour (yet they’re still going) hungry” she tells Vogue. With 90% of high street brands buying from at least 4 of the factories based in Bangladesh, theoretically the pay should be adequate. However, many companies fail to pay their employees with many cancellations, delays in payment, unpaid overtime and cases of harassment, it has become empowering to see these women protest for what’s right!
However, standing up for what is right can lead to chaos and destruction for example with two workers being killed in the marches. When met with police brutality, peaceful protests can quickly escalate into chaotic riots, in this case during the mass protest of over 100,000 protesters. The worst violence has erupted on the motorway north of the capital Dhaka to Mymensingh, where protesters began to throw rocks at the police. It has been reported that two people had died and at least 40 factories destroyed by protesters. It shows how badly these people want change and a better life and just by being aware and spreading this knowledge we might help change the world for the better.