Leading labour and human rights organizations are demanding sportswear giant Nike end its standoff with Cambodian garment workers and pay the $1.4 million in unpaid wages and termination benefits owed to them since the closure of the Violet Apparel factory in 2020. The Violet Apparel factory is owned by Nike’s primary manufacturing partner, the multi-million-dollar conglomerate, Ramatex Group. 

Tensions in Bangladesh are high as the minimum wage for garment workers has just been reviewed and adjusted for the first time in five years through an un-transparent and biased process.

The current monthly minimum wage of 8,000 Taka (approximately US$72) was already insufficient for a decent living when it came into force almost five years ago in 2019. Since then, workers have only received a small increment and have endured the additional pressure of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent high inflation.