On the 11th anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy, we stand in solidarity with the survivors and families of the thousands of garment workers who were killed or injured in this devastating tragedy.

After considerable pressure from Salvadoran unions (FEASIES, SGC, SINDICOM), labour rights organizations, and US universities, former workers from the Style Avenue factory in El Salvador will receive full severance and back wages.

Former workers from the Style Avenue factory in Ilopango, El Salvador are still waiting for unpaid severance and wages owed to them since the factory closed nine months ago, as well as outstanding health and pension contributions.

In February of 2023, one of the factory owners was jailed for failing to make legally mandated contributions for healthcare and pensions, and in May 2023, the factory officially closed. The Salvadoran Ministry of Labour estimates that the 244 former workers are owed a total of US$1.8 million.

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.