Foreign workers in Dhaka's fashion street earn 'as little as 7 pence an hour'

Bangladesh News.Net
Friday 5th December, 2008 (ANI)

Dhaka, Dec.5 : The anti-poverty charity called "War on Want" has charged high street fashion chain Primark with paying foreign workers as little as seven pence an hour as living costs.

According to the Independent, the charity has approached the British Government to introduce regulations to ensure a living wage for overseas suppliers and allow staff claiming exploitation to pursue claims through UK courts.

The charity said high inflation and increasing fuel costs in Bangladesh have led to a 70 per cent increase in the price of low-quality rice. The cost of other cooking items including oil, onions, pulses, wheat and flour had soared by 30 per cent to 60 per cent.

Workers claimed they needed the equivalent of 44.82 pounds a month to feed their families and pay for clean water, shelter, clothes, education, health care and transport.

War on Want claims that the average worker earns 19.16 pounds a month, with the majority living in small, crowded shacks, many lacking plumbing and adequate washing facilities.

The report also claims workers making clothes for Asda and Tesco are paid similar amounts.

All three retailers denied the allegations, saying they were committed to the ethical treatment of suppliers.

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