RMG owners compensate 984 terminated workers

Published on the Prothom Alo on 22, July 2017

Six readymade garment factory owners have compensated some 984 terminated workers and withdrawn criminal cases filed against them following negotiations and conditions set by buyers, according to IndustriALL, a global union.

Out of 1074 dismissed workers from the six factories, a total of 984 workers (92 per cent) have received their compensation. Some 76 workers who have not responded so far, can visit the respective factories anytime within this year to claim termination benefits.

Director for textile and garment industry of IndustriALL Christina Hajagos-Clausen, said: ‘It is an important achievement that a large number of workers received termination benefits. The National Monitoring Committee (NMC) worked hard to implement IndustriALL’s Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with H&M in Bangladesh, and we congratulate them for their successful efforts.’

Following a call by IndustriALL, the Swedish clothing giant H&M issued three conditions to its suppliers from the Ashulia area.

The conditions are: withdrawal of the criminal cases filed by the six RMG suppliers, reinstatement of the wrongfully dismissed workers and actively commit to engage with the NMC in order to achieve well function industrial relations.

In December 2016, garment workers in Ashulia area on the outskirt of Dhaka staged demonstrations, demanding an increase in minimum wages.

The government and the employers responded with repression on trade union activities, incarceration, and terminations for thousands of workers.

IndustriALL and its affiliates launched a global campaign against the repression.

The NMC set up to monitor the implementation of IndustriALL’s GFA with H&M in Bangladesh, worked together with brand representatives and held series of meetings starting in March, with its six suppliers including Artistic Design (Ha-Meem Group), Windy Apparels, Rose Dresses Ltd., Sharmin Apparels Ltd., Fountain Garments Ltd. and Dekko Design Ltd.

Representatives of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also participated in the process.

Following hard negotiations during the meetings it was agreed by the factory management that they will withdraw charges and call for the disposal of pending cases in accordance with legal procedure.

The management will be open to reinstating workers, and where it is not possible, the worker will be paid termination benefit and owed wages.

Suppliers also agreed to continue to engage with NMC in order to create well functioning industrial relations.

On the criminal cases filed against workers, the court dismissed four out of seven cases. About 11 cases of reinstatement are expected to be resolved soon.

Respective legal advisors of workers and factory management will hold time-to-time consultations to expedite the process.