Bangladesh has raised the minimum wage for its garment industry workers following months of violent protests over low salaries and poor working conditions. The 80-percent pay hike was announced Tuesday following an emergency meeting of the country's wage board committee.
The increase raised the minimum monthly wage for garment workers from $25 to $43.
Bangladesh has been the scene of massive protests by textile workers calling for higher pay. Workers were demanding that the minimum salary be increased to $72 a month.
Textile factories accounted for 80 percent of Bangladesh's annual export earnings last year, with many producing clothes for several global brands.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had criticized the country's clothing manufacturers saying the wages were not only insufficient but "inhuman."
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.