Thousands of Bangladeshi garment workers blocked a major highway and clashed with police on Monday, demanding a monthly minimum wage more than double their current pay, as protests spread across industrial hubs.

The South Asian nation of 170 million people is the world’s second-biggest garment exporter behind China, manufacturing clothes for some of the largest international brands.

Hundreds of workers in Gazipur, north of the capital Dhaka, blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, vandalising several vehicles, while large groups took to the streets in the Mirpur district, where police dispersed demonstrators with tear gas, AFP reporters saw.

Angry workers also set fire to a police vehicle.

The protests came despite the government’s announcement on Sunday that it would establish a wage board to review the minimum wage in the vital garment industry, which employs millions of people and generates the bulk of Bangladesh’s export earnings.

However, labour leaders say workers’ grievances extend beyond the formation of the board, citing inflation and rising household expenses.

The protesters demand a 30,000-taka monthly wage, more than double their current pay.

Workers currently earn about 13,000 taka a month, according to Kalpona Akter of the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity.

Police fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters to disperse crowds in Ashulia, a Dhaka suburb and the site of some of the country’s largest factories.

“Food prices, cooking gas and electricity bills have all gone up — the government must either bring down the prices of essential commodities or raise our wages,” said Mamum, 28, a factory worker.

Machine operator Sharmin, 24, said: “We keep the wheels of the economy turning. They must listen to us.” Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed warned that the government was taking strong action to stop the protests.

“Those engaging in unlawful activities and conspiracies under the guise of labour movements will be tackled with an iron hand,” he said after meeting industry leaders on Monday.

‘Crack down’

However, Ahmed also said earlier Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had instructed officials after hosting an emergency cabinet meeting late on Sunday to “ensure workers’ rights and improve their living standards”.

He said Rahman had told them to make sure production and exports continued “unhindered”.

Bangladesh’s main manufacturer associations for garments and knitwear warned that “prolonged unrest could disrupt production, delay export shipments and affect Bangladesh’s commitments to international buyers”, the state-run BSS news agency said on Monday.

Kamrul Hasan, general secretary of the Ekota Garments Sramik Federation, told AFP some labour leaders had gone into hiding.

“We were not prepared for this unrest either, as the wage board has already been formed,” he said.

“But workers are now protesting over wages and other unresolved issues.”

In Ashulia, security officers chased protesters as they scattered down narrow side streets, with the choking tear gas drifting into densely packed housing where families often live crammed into single rooms.

“Police fired tear gas shells inside our compound,” said Kamona, 24, who gave only one name.

“We have children, but they don’t care.”

Industry representatives said workers from at least 529 factories in Dhaka and its surrounding industrial areas, including Savar, Ashulia, Jirani and Gazipur, had left their workplaces on Sunday.