Govt under pressure over moves against TUs

Syful Islam | Published: February 08, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The government is set to face mounting pressure from the western countries over allegation of growing harassment and termination of labour leaders for trying to form trade unions in the readymade garment (RMG) factories, sources said.
The US embassy in Dhaka, in a recent note to the Secretaries Committee on RMG, spoke about increased number of harassment and forced resignation of workers for making moves to form trade unions (TUs).
The Ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, and the Netherlands will meet the Secretaries Committee, headed by Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed on February 13. Secretaries from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour are also members of the committee which met the envoys last time on December 30, 2013.
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday also in a statement, quoting some union organisers, said, workers were beaten up, lost their jobs or had been forced to resign. "Factory owners sometimes used local gangsters to threaten or attack workers outside the workplace, including at their homes."
In the note, the US embassy said in some cases, the factory management paid money to union leaders and members to convince them to quit their jobs and cease their efforts to form trade unions. Â
Â "The embassy wishes to stress once again that it considers such harassment as unacceptable and notes that the Bangladesh law prohibits terminating a worker for engaging in trade union activity," the note said.
The embassy in the note provided 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 American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
The AFL-CIO is a Washington-based global labour organisation which advocated for suspension of generalised system of preference (GSP) facility for Bangladeshi goods to the US market for labour rights violation and poor working condition in the factories.
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 in last July allowing formation of trade unions in the factories.
Following the amendment, workers of garment factories moved to form trade unions which the owners reportedly opposed in various ways.
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. The incident occurred after they submitted their application for registration on September 29 last. "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 jobs voluntarily and took payment according to the labour law.
Similarly, the management of the Weltex Garments allegedly threatened the workers not to set up trade union. It forced them to sign blank papers after they submitted their application for registration of the trade union. The management also issued termination letters to the union leaders.
The management did not reinstate one of the labour leaders even after the Joint Director of Labour 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.
While investigating the allegations, in many cases, the JDL found evidence of harassment and ordered reinstatement of the labour leaders. In some cases, the JDL itself filed criminal cases against the factory owners, according to the note.
When contacted, vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Shahidullah Azim told the FE Friday they did not receive any allegation of harassment by the factory managements.
He said in 2011, no trade union got registration while 27 were registered in 2012 and 96 in 2013.
"The number of registered trade unions is increasing every year. We welcome constructive trade unions," Mr Azim said.
He said some union leaders make fortune by cheatingÂ both general workers and factory owners. "We won't allow such labour leaders and unions to destroy the industry."