As of 2010, the total labour force in Bangladesh is approximately 50 million, of whom approximately 1.9 million belonged to unions, many of which were affiliated with political parties.98 The law recognized the right to strike; however, many restrictions on this right remained. For example, 75 percent of union membership must consent to a strike before it can proceed. The government can shut down any strikes lasting more than 30 days and refer the matter to labour courts for adjudication. In addition, strikes are banned for the first three years of commercial production or if the factory was built with foreign investment or owned by a foreign investor. In practice, few strikes follow legal requirements, which are cumbersome; strikes or walk-outs often occur based on the spontaneous decisions of workers. The government filed cases against some striking labour leaders and workers for destruction of property, blocking roads, or for labour unrest, stemming from the June and December minimum wage-related protests in 2010. These cases remain unresolved, as of now. In recent years, labour organizers reported acts of intimidation and abuse, as well as increased scrutiny by security forces and the National Security Intelligence Agency. Sporadic, occasionally intense, labour unrest occurred throughout the country, particularly in the readymade garment sector. Labour organizers also reported 99 80 Ibid.