Eight US Congress members have urged the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) to strongly support the demands of Bangladesh's garment workers for fairer wages.

"While we were encouraged to see several US brands express support for a wage increase and a fair, transparent wage-setting process, words are not enough. The reluctance to support a living wage of BDT 23,000, or around $208 per month, is not only disheartening but shameful."

"Due to their significant presence and operational leverage in Bangladesh, we believe that AAFA member companies are strongly positioned to support workers' petitions for livable wages and to vocally champion their labour rights in a key country for the global apparel industry."

The letter is signed by Ilhan Omar, Jim McGovern, Jan Schakowsky, Raúl Grijalva, Barbara Lee, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, David Trone, and Susan Wild. They made the demand in a letter to the AAFA on Monday.

"We are writing to urge the AAFA to strongly support the demands of Bangladesh's garment workers for fairer wages," the lawmakers wrote.

The letter comes more than a month after the minimum wage board raised the minimum salary for millions of garment workers at Tk 12,500 against a demand of about Tk 25,000.

The letter said the wage increases, which would not even meet the rising cost of living, have led to extended mass protests. Police have responded with violence against protesters and trade union leaders, resulting in at least four deaths, numerous injuries, and a wave of unjust arrests, detentions, and indefinite factory shutdowns.

"We agree with the Biden administration's call for the government of Bangladesh to respect and protect workers' rights to organise, protest peacefully, and collectively bargain without fear of retaliation, violence, or intimidation."

"US brands must use their influence and stand together with workers by immediately demanding better wages and rights for Bangladeshi working families."

This letter echoes the sentiments of local worker organisations, international trade unions, and the US government to revisit the minimum wage decision and respect worker rights, including the freedom of association.

The letter is endorsed by the Academics Stand Against Poverty, the Asian Pacific American Labour Alliance (AFL-CIO affiliate), the IndustriALL Global Union, the Institute for Policy Studies – Global Economy Project, the Labour Behind the Label, the Oxfam America, and the Workers United (SEIU affiliate), it said.

The lawmakers urged the AAFA to pressure the government and garment manufacturers of Bangladesh to improve the wage-setting process and accept workers' minimum demand of $208 per month to align with the real cost of living.

The AAFA was asked to commit to maintaining a long-term sourcing relationship with suppliers and to increasing their purchasing prices to fully absorb the additional labour costs, and foster transparency and accountability in the business operations and supply chains of member companies to safeguard labour and human rights.

The lawmakers urged the association to instruct their suppliers to promptly withdraw or dismiss any false criminal cases filed against workers and union leaders.

"Warn your suppliers to stop filing criminal cases against workers, and make clear that the dismissal, blacklisting, or other harassment of workers and union leaders is unacceptable and will influence your sourcing decisions."