Garment workers in Asia continue to resist ‘Race to the Bottom’

Garment workers are some of the least paid industrial workers in the world with the legal minimum wage in Cambodia only being US$61/month while in Bangladesh it is still stuck at $36/month even after unprecedented strike actions in 2011. While companies like H&M profess to care for their workers, the reality is very different with workers being fired when taking action. Lately, Burma has entered the fray wanting preferential trade agreements with both Europe and the USA so it can attract foreign investment. How low will the wages for Burmese workers be set at?

Garment workers are some of the least paid industrial workers in the world with the legal minimum wage in Cambodia only being US$61/month while in Bangladesh it is still stuck at $36/month even after unprecedented strike actions in 2011. While companies like H&M profess to care for their workers, the reality is very different with workers being fired when taking action. Lately, Burma has entered the fray wanting preferential trade agreements with both Europe and the USA so it can attract foreign investment. How low will the wages for Burmese workers be set at?