Asian consumers: the future engine of global growth

Workers across Asia are demanding big pay increases. (The Straits Times, Sept. 20, 2010) A massive strike in the Cambodian garment increase has followed worker rejection of a 20% pay increase; they are demanding +50%, from US$ 61/month to $93. Bangladesh’s three million garment workers have rejected an 80% increase and are striking for more. Independent trade unions are banned in Vietnam, but there have been 139 strikes so far this year. Similar stories are coming from India, China, and Indonesia.