The US-based daily The New York Times has blamed the government of Bangladesh and factory owners for the ongoing unrest in the readymade garments sector.
Its editorial piece "Fed Up in Bangladesh," published on September 25, said that the unrest was “no surprise” since the government and owners ignore the workers.
The article said owners can “clearly pay more” because retailers were turning to Bangladesh for cheaper production and business in this sector grew by more than 50% in two years.
It also said local lawmakers in collaboration with factory owners keep the workers from forming unions to negotiate for better pay.
The New York Times called the police action on these workers “an astonishing move” from the government and called on the ruling Awami League to stop using tear gas and rubber bullets on unarmed protestors.
The daily paper said they supported labour groups to convince western companies to help pay for factory-safety improvements in Bangladesh.
