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Angry Bangladesh workers want raise: From $25 to $45 a month

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh - Garment workers demanding the implementation of a new minimum wage clashed with police at an industrial zone in southeastern Bangladesh yesterday, leaving up to three people dead and 100 hurt, police and news reports said.

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh - Garment workers demanding the implementation of a new minimum wage clashed with police at an industrial zone in southeastern Bangladesh yesterday, leaving up to three people dead and 100 hurt, police and news reports said.

Police official Reza Al Hasan said authorities first used clubs then opened fire and used tear gas after thousands of workers attacked factories and smashed vehicles at the Chittagong Export Processing Zone. The zone houses about 70 foreign companies that mainly manufacture garments, shoes and bicycles, and employ about 150,000 workers.

Hasan said one worker died but would not say how. The United News of Bangladesh news agency said three people were fatally shot, but police would not confirm the figure.

Violent protests by garment workers are common in Bangladesh. The country has about 4,000 garment factories which export more than $10 billion worth of products a year, mainly to the United States and Europe.

Their customers include Wal-Mart, Tesco, H&M, Zara, Carrefour, Gap, Metro, JCPenney, Marks & Spencer, Kohl's, Levi Strauss and Tommy Hilfiger.

Chittagong, 135 miles southeast of Dhaka, has the country's main seaport and many local and foreign businesses have their offices there.

Police said at least 25 people were arrested.

Officials said yesterday's clashes involved a South Korean company, YoungOne, which suspended operations at its 13 garment factories late Saturday after workers attacked the facilities.

They said the workers were demanding the implementation of a new wage structure announced by the government in July.

Kihak Sung, chairman of YoungOne, said outsiders, not workers, had attacked the factories and that there was no problem with workers regarding wages.

In the first increase since 2006, the government raised the official minimum wage to 3,000 takas ($45) a month from 1,662 takas ($25). The new pay structure took effect in November, but workers say many factories haven't implemented it yet.

Garment workers in Bangladesh are among the lowest-paid in the world, according to the International Trade Union Confederation, a Vienna-based labor rights group.