Bangladesh has told its garment workers they can have another $20 per month in a minimum wage case.

The new amount raises minimum monthly wages for millions of garment workers by about 80 percent.

After months of violent protests over poor pay and conditions, the garment workers, who are paid the least in the world for their skills, persuaded the government they were no longer able to afford food and shelter on their earnings.

The wage hike was organised by the International Trade Union Confederation, a Vienna-based labour rights group.

The official minimum wage has now been set at 3,000 takas or $45 a month.

Bangladesh's garment industry exports mainly to the United States and Europe, to companies such as Wal-Mart, Tesco, Carrefour, Gap, JCPenney and Levi Strauss.