The UK-based retail company, Debenhams, has fired all 69 employees of its Dhaka liaison office during the Covid-19 pandemic, without paying their lawful benefits.
Debenhams Bangladesh Employees' Union (DBEU), an organisation of former employees of its Bangladesh office, disclosed the information at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city on Saturday.
The DBEU alleged that Debenhams is now doing fraud by illegally resuming its business in the country through third parties, without respecting the labour rights and ignoring the law of the land.
The British company, that opened the Dhaka liaison office in 2013, stopped its operation in Bangladesh office and laid off all 69 employees on April 15 last.
DBEU president Bahauddin Mohammad Ataullah said that the fired employees were living inhumane lives while the company had been running business through third parties without paying the dues of the employees.
"The company has stopped operation without following any legal procedure or seeking any sort of permission from the regulatory authorities in Bangladesh," he said.
"Moreover, we have come to know that this organisation has resumed its business through third parties without paying the dues of the employees and respecting the labour rights."
Terming their activities 'fancy cheating', he also alleged that the retailer was violating the international laws and ignoring rules of the existing regulatory body of the country.
Speaking at the press conference titled 'Illegal Dismissal and Fair Pay', the DBEU president said that no rules of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) had been followed for the closure of the local liaison office as the issue of closures must be published in one of the most popular newspapers at least three months before the closure.
"Due to non-compliance with all these legal procedures, Bangladeshi suppliers and vendors have now filed anonymous cases against us. As a result, we are in a financial crisis as well as a social and legal crisis," he noted.
The fired employees demanded salaries equivalent to four monthsof notice period, two festival bonuses, earned leave and gratuity. They also sought cooperation of the regulatory authorities in realizing their demand.
Ghulam Murshed, trustee of Bangladesh Labour Institute, said it was not desirable for a British company to disobey laws and regulations in conducting business in Bangladesh.
He said that the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh and the regulatory bodies in Bangladesh should take immediate action if there is any violation of law in this regard.
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