Rogue owners summoned by MoC next Monday

The government will initiate harsh actions against the readymade garment (RMG) factory owners who are allegedly harassing and terminating labour leaders for trying to form trade unions, sources said.

In this regard, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has summoned a group of factory owners to clarify about the allegations. The MoC has convened a meeting in this regard on Monday next.

The step is being taken after the US embassy in Dhaka forwarded a list of RMG factories where the right to form trade unions (TUs) is being grossly violated, sources added.

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday last in a statement also urged the government to press the factory owners to stop intimidation and harassment of workers for organising TUs. It also requested the government to take action against the factory owners who organised attacks on labour leaders.

"We have asked these factory owners to meet us next Monday. Actions will be taken after hearing their explanation," Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed told the FE Thursday.

He said allegations of labour harassment in the factories were made by different organisations. "We want to understand what actually is happening there."

In the meeting, to be held at the MoC conference room, presidents of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) were also invited alongside those factory owners.

The US embassy in Dhaka in a recent note to the secretaries committee on RMG informed about increased number of harassment and forced resignation of workers for moving to be united. It said in some cases, the factory management paid union leaders and members money to convince them to resign from their jobs and cease organising activities.

"The embassy wishes to stress once again that it considers such union harassment unacceptable and notes that the Bangladesh law prohibits terminating a worker for engaging in trade union activities," the note said.

The embassy in the note provided the updates on seven cases which the Joint Director of Labour (JDL) investigated months back. Besides, it also mentioned about reports of labour harassment in 12 factories it received from the Solidarity Centre of American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO).

After the suspension of GSP facility in the US market following the deadly incidents in Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions, the government amended the labour law last July allowing formation of trade union in the factories. Following the amendment, workers of garment factories moved to form trade unions which the owners reportedly opposed.

According to the US embassy note, the management of the Basic Apparels in Uttara terminated 72 workers and union members, including three executive committee members after they submitted their application for TU registration on September 29 last. "The management-hired criminals took forced signatures from the 72 and offered three months' salary as severance pay. The union registration is still pending," it said.

As of January 8 last, the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) president was found meeting the management to resolve the dispute. However, the management claimed to a government investigation team that all the 72 workers resigned from their job voluntarily and took payment according to the labour law.

Similarly, the management of the Weltex Garments allegedly threatened workers to refrain from organising TU activities. It forced them to sign blank papers after they submitted their application for registration of trade union. The management also issued termination letters to the union leaders.

The management did not reinstate one of the labour leaders even after Joint Director of Labour (JDL) issued an order in this connection threatening legal action. The JDL is now preparing to file a case against the management.

The US embassy note also mentioned about harassment of workers in Rumana Fashion and Fashion Unit, Massco Industries, Eagle Eyes Design, Sadia Garments, Global Trousers Management, Fashion Island, Tunghai Sweaters, Dorin Washing Plant, Norwest Industries, Shoab Knit Composite, Redical Design, Vobs Apparels Ltd, Samia Garments, Diamond Fashion Wear, Fashion Gears Ltd, Vision Apparels, and Eve Garment Ltd.