Workers clash with police in Bangladesh

Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers churning out clothes for top global brands walked off the job yesterday and clashed with police as protests over low wages entered a second week.

Police said water cannons and tear gas were fired to disperse huge crowds of striking factory workers in Savar, a garment hub just outside the capital Dhaka.

Bangladesh is dependant on garments stitched by millions of low-paid tailors on factory floors.

Roughly 80 per cent of its export earnings come from clothing sales abroad, with global retailers H&M, Primark, Walmart, Tesco and Aldi among the main buyers.

Garment workers have been demanding a wage rise, closing factories for seven days and taking to the streets in huge marches. —