Referendum held in three factories of IEPZ to form WWA

Published in the Financial Express on 30, May 2017

Three factories of Ishwardi EPZ adopted referendum to form Workers Welfare Association (WWA), says a press release.

The factories are Bangladeshi owned M/sAdnan PSF Industries Limited & M/s Fujian Export Industry Limited on May 22 and Indian owned M/s Gold Shine Industries on May 29.

The eligible workers of these factories voted ‘yes/no’ through secret ballot, added the release.

100 per cent eligible workers of Adnan PSF Industries, 78.58 per cent of Fujian Export Industry and 86.47 per cent of Gold Shine Industries voted against formation of WWA.

As a result, no further referendum shall be held in these factories until expiration of one year. This decision of the workers expresses their confidence to the management.

The Government enacted “The EPZ Workers’ Welfare Association and Industrial Relations Act, 2010” in order to give right to freedom of association and collective bargaining to the EPZ workers.

The union formed under this act, called WWA, allows the workers to elect their representatives by secret ballot.

232 WWAs have already been formed in the enterprises of EPZs which are functioning independently.