Even as Bangladesh continues to battle with rising inflation –according to the latest estimates by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the country is experiencing the highest inflation in the last eight years – workers employed in the country’s readymade garment sector are struggling with rising commodity prices.
Media reports maintained this while adding even though a number of large apparel manufacturing units have started Fair Price Shops to try provide goods to garment workers at more competitive rates than the existing market price, the recent increase in fuel prices has pushed up operational costs of these shops by 10-15 per cent even as commodity prices had also to be adjusted in accordance thereby pushing up prices of almost all products.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Executive Director of Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity, Kalpona Akter, reportedly, maintained that garment workers’ salary increased by 5 per cent of the basic pay annually even as commodity price hike is significantly higher.
Reports citing data published by the Government agency Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) on 17 August claimed price of rice has increased by about 12 per cent, flour by 75 per cent, lentil by 41 per cent, soybean oil by 41 per cent and eggs by 54 per cent.
