Raise your voice for the right of 4.2 million Bangladeshi Garment Workers to organize
"Garment owners and the government are using 43 cases filed against 20,000 workers as a weapon to obstruct the path of 4.2 million garment workers in Bangladesh from organizing, forming unions, negotiating, claiming fair rights, eliminating discrimination in maternity leave for women workers, and stopping sexual harassment.”
The National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of 43 false cases and compensation for 4 killed workers according to ILO Convention 121.
Last year in 2023, centered on the garment workers' wage struggle, 4 workers were killed, 121 workers were arrested and imprisoned, 43 cases were filed, and 20,000 workers were accused. The National Garment Workers Federation presented 6 demands including the immediate withdrawal of these 43 false cases and compensation for 4 killed workers according to ILO Convention 121 at a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka on July 4, 2024.
At the press conference, the federation was represented by: Amirul Haque Amin, President of the Federation. Also present were central leaders of the federation: Faridul Islam, H. Rabiul Chowdhury, Mrs. Jesmin Akter, Miss Camelia Hassan, Md. Riyad Hossain, Suraiya Jasmin Ruma and Mrs. Asma Akter.
The following expressed solidarity with this demand of the National Garment Workers Federation: Abul Hossain, President of the Textile Garment Workers Federation (TGWF) and Shehly Afroz Lovely, Joint Secretary of the United Federation of Garment Workers (UFGW).
At the beginning of the press conference, 8 worker leaders who were arrested and imprisoned during the last wage struggle were honored with flower bouquets on behalf of the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF).
It was mentioned in the press conference that this unexpected and brutal incident occurred due to 5 irresponsibility of the owners and the government.
1. According to ILO Convention and Bangladesh Labour Law, in forming the Wage Board - if there is only one union or federation in the relevant sector, representatives from that organization must be included. If there are multiple unions or federations in the relevant sector, representatives should be taken from the organization that represents the largest number of workers. Accordingly, representatives from the National Garment Workers Federation or IBC (IndustriALL Bangladesh Council) should have been taken for the garment sector wage board. Despite IBC nominating Amirul Haque Amin in writing as a representative, the government violated ILO Convention and Bangladesh Labour Law by including Sirajul Islam, President of the National Garments Workers Employees League, as a sectorial representative on the wage board according to the owners' preference.
2. Although the Wage Board was formed on 10.04.2024, the board's activities did not progress in due time and became largely stagnant due to the owners' representative.
3. The worker representative on the board proposed wages on 22.10.2023, but the owner representative presented their proposal at the 4th meeting.
4. The owners deliberately presented arguments for determining wages much lower than the expected wages of workers and those submitted by the workers' representative.
5. The owner representative proposed a minimum wage of only 10,400 taka, which is equivalent to 89 dollars. In 2018, the minimum wage was 8,000 taka, which was equivalent to 100 dollars at the exchange rate at that time. In 2023, according to the exchange rate, the value of 100 dollars stands at 11,349 taka.
In the 5 years from 2018 to 2023, the price of commodities has increased 2 times in some cases and 3 times in others.
On the other hand, garment workers see in the owners' proposal that their wages in 2023 are proposed to be 949 taka less than in 2018 (100-89) = 11 dollars. This extremely angered the workers, and garment workers considered this proposal by the owners as an insult to the workers. Due to the 5 reasons mentioned, discontent arose among the garment workers of Bangladesh. As a result, workers in various factories adopted "go slow" policies, held internal discussions, submitted wage increase demands to the authorities in some factories, and even "stopped work" in some cases.
Most garment owners resorted to suppression, harassment, mass beatings of workers by local thugs, threats to workers' homes, and termination of workers' employment in response to these "go slow" and "work stoppage" actions by garment workers. On the other hand, the administration, especially the industrial police and various agencies, also adopted similar attitudes. As a result, workers became more agitated and impatient.
When the agitated and impatient garment workers took to the streets and started meetings, processions and demonstrations, the owners and the government again resorted to violence instead of resolving it through dialogue.
Police indiscriminately fired on workers participating in processions, even targeting workers standing at factory gates. In some cases, the owners' hired forces used bullets, while in other cases they started beating workers with sticks. 4 workers were killed in the shooting, attacks and rampage by the police and owners' hired forces. Police arrested 121 leaders, activists and workers including 8 worker leaders.
The demand and struggle for determining the minimum wage of garment workers is otherwise logical and fair. All steps taken by garment owners and the government to suppress workers' fair demands and struggles are unjust, illogical and unacceptable. Shooting to suppress agitated workers is extremely brutal. We consider the death of 4 workers by police shooting to be equal to worker murder.
He further said that meanwhile, the wages of garment workers have been determined. The wage struggle started by garment workers has also ended. But not one of the 43 cases filed against 20,000 workers has been withdrawn - which is deliberate.
The evil purposes are: 1. Not allowing workers to form trade unions 2. Not allowing workers to organize 3. Depriving workers of their fundamental rights 4. Blocking the path of workers to protest against injustice 5. Depriving women workers of maternity leave and rights 6. Closing the path to protest sexual harassment.
These rights are being deprived by threatening protesting workers with arrest by putting their names as unknown accused.
Garment owners are using these false cases as a weapon.
The following 6-point demands were raised from the press conference:
1. There should be a proper investigation and trial of the killing of 4 garment workers.
2. The affected families of the 4 killed workers should be compensated according to ILO Convention 121.
3. The 121 people including arrested worker leaders should be compensated for harassment, torture, and absence from work.
4. Mass arrests and harassment of workers and worker leaders must be stopped.
5. 43 false cases filed against 20,000 workers must be withdrawn.
6. No worker should be blacklisted.
With thanks
(Amirul Haque Amin)
President, Mobile: 01731-201302
