Bangladesh's garment industry is worth 19 billion dollars this year alone.<br/> <br />Retailers world wide depend on the country's cheap labor to keep their costs down.<br/> <br />But poor working conditions and low pay have prompted protests by the country's some 4 million workers.<br/> <br />One of them is Nazma Begum. She earns $51 a month- a third of which goes to pay for a room where she can raise her three children.<br/> <br />Nazma says unless standards improve, workers will continue to demonstrate.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Bengali) GARMENT FACTORY WORKER, NAZMA BEGUM, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Now I get 4,200 taka ($51 USD) per month, which should be raised at least to 6,000 taka. I spend almost one-third of my wage for hiring a one room shelter while the prices of all daily necessaries are going gone up. Unless our pay is raised accordingly, there will be more unrest."<br/> <br />Worker unrest spells bad news for companies like H & M, JC Penny, Mark's and Spencer and others who buy clothes made in Bangladesh.<br/> <br />Besides delayed shipments, companies say they're worried about poor working conditions and low wages , their own reputations at stake.<br/> <br />The CEO for H & M was in Bangladesh earlier this week to make clear his company's dedication to fair working conditions.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) H&M CHIEF EXECUTIVE KARL-JOHAN PERRSON SAYING:<br/> <br />"As a company with a clear commitment towards workers' rights, as well as business in Bangladesh, we look forward to a prompt resolution regarding increased minimum wages, and yearly wage reviews."<br/> <br />For now, government officials say they have no plans to review the wage structure.<br/> <br />Rather than increase wages, they have said they will bring down the cost of food.
