ETI voices concern over actions against agitating RMG workers

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) has expressed concern about the numbers of arrests, ongoing detentions, pending court cases and actions taken against garment workers in Bangladesh following their demonstrations for a wage hike.
The ETI, a UK-based independent body that influences business to act responsibly and promote decent work in the global supply chains, has also said it was especially concerned by complaints against large groups of workers who were being collectively prosecuted for the alleged unlawful activities committed by individuals.
"We urge the government of Bangladesh to conduct investigations, hold those responsible to account and effectively implement preventative measures," says a statement issued on March 21.
There should also be encouragement that some form of national reconciliation is fostered between factory owners and labour rights organisations to move beyond the current situation and prevent similar problems from arising in the future.
The ETI also supports the ILO governing body's recommendations to remove existing restrictions on freedom of association in all sectors and to facilitate the registration of trade unions and the right to collective bargaining.
Explaining the situation it referred several key points for consideration that included ILO convention 87 defining the right to freedom of association and the right to organise.
The ETI Base Code emphasises that worker representatives should not face discrimination and should have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplaces, the statement added.
No form of individual or collective discrimination should be practised against workers or their representatives for exercising their legitimate rights to strike and protest, it noted in the statement.
"Due to the nature of the minimum wage setting mechanism in Bangladesh - which involves a small annual uplift and then a wage setting negotiation every five years - the process is a focal point for all stakeholders concerned."
In 2023, this process was carried out in the context of a significant cost of living crisis, pressure on costs at factories, and a real decline in the purchasing power of wages for workers, it said, adding furthermore on both occasions this process was held in the run up to national elections, creating a complex political dynamic in the wider context.
Whilst the right to organise, strike, and protest should be respected, this does not legitimise alleged criminal activity, damage to property or violence from any party, the ETI noted.
It is understandable that where significant damage has been caused, factories closed as a result, and wages lost, this is damaging to workers, factory owners and to the reputation of Bangladesh.
"Action taken against alleged perpetrators must be evidence based and due process followed through the judicial system to hold people to account," it said.
However, even where alleged criminal damage and violence has occurred, this cannot be used as an excuse to target individual workers, groups of workers, or their representatives without credible evidence of their involvement in such incidents.
Any allegations or cases, brought against individuals or groups of workers that are not evidence-based or used as a form of collective intimidation, are not in alignment with either international law or responsible business practice.
"Therefore, it is important that companies buying from Bangladesh communicate to their suppliers that, whilst allegations of criminal damage and violence are matters for the judicial system, collective intimidation and discrimination of workers and their representatives, more generally, are not an acceptable response."

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