Hafiza Becum and her husband lives in a tin shed. They share a kitchen, toilet and shower with five other families. The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka. Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent
By Vilhelm Stokstad – Bangladesh has been said to have the cheapest labour in the world. In 2013 the minimum wage for textile workers in Bangladesh was raised. But instead of better living conditions, the cost of food and accommodation has skyrocketed, as well as the workload. The women at one of H&Ms subcontractors in Dhaka testifies to a situation worse than before the pay raise.
20141013 Dhaka
Hafiza Becum and her husband lives in a tin shed. They share a kitchen, toilet and shower with five other families. The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141012 Dhaka
The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141012 Dhaka
Sakhina Becum, 35, have been working at the factory for nine years. She gets more time with her family now that she cant work overtime anymore, but instead the pay that she gets is not enough to provide for her three daughters. She got a lower pay level after the new pay system was implemented. The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141015 Dhaka
Jakia Becum is preparing to go to work, she worked 8 years at this factory.
The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141012 Dhaka
Many of the children in the slum area are left alone during the days, while the parents work. The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141015 Dhaka
Khadiza Akther has time to feed her kids some mushed banana and rice for breakfast before she has to leave for work.The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141015 Dhaka
Khadiza and Jakia on the way to the factory, one of few still active in central Dhaka. The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141012 Dhaka
Hafiza Becum, 21, and Shumi Becum, 20, both worked at the factory for 1 year. They both have a son each, abut Hafizas son has to live with her husbands parents back in their village.
Ð i would have liked to work in the village instead, she says, but there are no jobs there.
The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141013 Dhaka
Jakia Becum at home after a work day. She says she need longer hours to make the economy come together, and that her two sons sometimes have to go to sleep hungry.
The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141012 Dhaka
When Nazma came back to work after parental leave, the new wage system had been implemented. She had also been given a lower pay grade than before. She wants to be anonymous out of fear of hear employer, Nazma is a fictive name.
The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141015 Dhaka
Shat Tala, or the 7 Story Slum, in central Dhaka. Just a few minuets in rickshaw from the diplomatic area of Gulshan.
The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent20141018 Dhaka
Several reports suggest that the rentals fees per square meter in the slum areas, now are higher than in more central middle class areas. But those areas have limitations on how crowded you can live and its hard to just renat a small room or one room apartment. The minimum wages was raised in 2013 in Bangladesh, but the living wage, whats left to live on after expenses, is actually lower now than before 10 years ago, according to the women in 7 story slum in central Dhaka.
Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad / Kontinent
