In a sweeping reversal of a crackdown that drew global outrage, the interim government of Bangladesh has dropped criminal charges against 48,000 garment workers arrested during 2023 wage protests.

“Victory!.. Bangladeshi Garment Workers Freed From Threat of Arrests,” labour advocacy group Clean Clothes Campaigns shared via a post on Instagram on October 23.

The cases stemmed from mass demonstrations in November 2023, which were triggered by the government’s new minimum wage announcement, which fell far below union demands of BDT 23,000 (about $196) a month.