Bangladesh garment workers get Tk30 rice funded entirely by state
Bangladesh has launched a subsidised rice scheme for garment workers at Tk30 per kilo, paying the entire cost from public funds rather than factory owners.
The Bangladesh government has launched a special Open Market Sale scheme to provide subsidised rice to garment workers amid ongoing protests demanding higher minimum wages. Under the plan, workers will be able to buy up to 10 kilograms of rice monthly at Tk30 per kilo.
According to BBC Bangla, the three-month initiative will cover industrial hubs across Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram. The food ministry has requested 4,500 tonnes of rice alongside transport and administrative funds from the finance division. Crucially, garment factory owners will contribute nothing, with the entire subsidy funded by the national treasury.
The move has sparked debate over whether state-funded relief reduces pressure on factory owners to increase basic wages. Ministry officials maintained the measure is aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures for low-income workers during periods of elevated market prices.
Source: BBC Bangla
