I began working in Bangladesh’s garment industry at the age of 12, making just $3 a month. I went to work because my father had a stroke and the family needed money to cover basic living expenses. I worked 23 days in a row, sleeping on the shop floor, taking showers in the factory restroom, drinking unsafe water and being slapped by the supervisor.
By the time I was a young woman working at a factory that made clothing for a big U.S. retailer, I knew the time had come for change.
The factory owed my coworkers and me overtime wages, but it wanted to pay us only half of what we had earned, making it even harder for us to support our families. So I helped lead a strike to hold our manager accountable.
I was fired and blacklisted, but my work was far from over. I later learned labor law, English and computer skills so that I could help win justice for garment workers.
Today I lead a worker education and advocacy nonprofit that counts tens of thousands of garment workers as members.
I can’t say how much I admire Kalpona Akter.