Migrant trade union ÀÌÁֳ뵿Àڳ뵿Á¶ÇÕ
Ȩ | ÀÌÀüȨÆäÀÌÁö°¡±â
  ChinaIndonesiaVietnamPhillippinesThailandBangladeshMongoliaUzbekistanSrilankaburmaNepalPakistan  

    Bangladesh[Bangladesh]

0
 41   3   2
  View Articles

Name  
   ½î³Ä 
Subject  
   Struggle of garment workers in Bangladesh
Dear Sonia

Sincere greetings, how are you? Hope you have informed the recent movement of garment workers in Bangladesh. I wish to inform you the real history of our movement.


In the garment factories of Bangladesh, subjugation and slavery have been going on over the last 30 (Thirty) years. Against these oppressions in the garment factories, recently massive workers?uprising as taken place under the leadership of the GWUF. The episode of this uprising broke up on 11 May drawing the movement of worker in the 멑S Sweater Factory?of Sripur thana (Police Station) under Gazipur district. In this Sweater factory, as many as 5000 workers are employed. Upon movement, as the owner of the factory accepted the workers demand on 12 May and the workers resumed production from 13 May. But, behind the acceptance of workers?demand, the owner filed false cases against 35000 workers. In midnight of 18 May, police arrested 5 workers from their homes. Against these, to withdraw all the false cases and to release al the arrested, the workers observed strike. The GWUF held a rally and made demonstration in Gazipur on 19 May. On the day 19 May, Mushrefa Mishu, President of the organization  Garment Worker Unity Forum (GWUF) repeatedly requested over telephone to the director of FS Sweater factory to resolve the problem through discussion. But the owner did not sit for discussion. Next day on 20 May when I was talking to Deepa in my home at Dhaka, police at the direction and in collusion of owner fired on the peaceful striking workers and killed 3 workers.
Against this action, the workers protest turned to a militant movement. In protest of besides this killing, the workers in different areas burst into strong protest against the long-30 years oppression. Millions of workers came out of the factories, demanding their 11 points. On 23 May, the GWUF called an all-out strike in the garment industry of Gazipur district. But due to deprivation of 30 years, workers start movement in Dhaka, Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur in realizing their 11-point demand. Though there is a so-called right to form an organization named 밯orkers welfare Association?in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs), workers became more repressed by owners. As a result, on 22 May workers of Savar and Ashulia went for movement. On 23 May, the president of the GWUF was arrested for her leading strike staying at Gazipur. More than one hundred workers including the Gazipur branch leaders of the organization- Halima Begum, Shahidul and Hasibul were arrested. 11 cases were filed against each of them. As many as 19 cases have been filed against Mushrefa Mishu in Gazipur thana (PS) and 7 in Ashulia. Mushrefa Mishu was thrown to lock-up at Gazipur thana. She was confined to such an unhygienic condition, which is not even suitable for having toilet. She was not provided and food, medicine and not even water to drink. She was not allowed to meet the activists and leaders of the organization and even close relatives. Which is a serious violation of all national and international human rights. On 24 May, Mushrefa Mishu, 5 workers and Halima Begum were taken to 5-days remand. In the remand, police tried to take forcibly false confessional statement from her. Police exerted force to confess, 밃ll the rampage, fire arsons and damages of factory goods of crore taka happened at my direction.?She also threatened with death. But, in fact, the GWUF was continuing a peaceful strike to protest against workers killing and 11-point demand. Owners, out to sabotage the peaceful strike of the organization, created the entire rampage and damage of factories by hiring hoodlums. After her release on temporary bail, Mishu is being threatened with death in 밅ross-fire?over cell phone from various members. She was threatened repeatedly with abusive words such as. 밳ou have destroyed my asset of crore Taka. You won뭪 be spared. You cannot be kept in Jail by false cases, so you will be vanished in Crossfire by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) (a force created by the government) to kill and squash people뭩 movement. You will give leadership should you are allowed alive? Wantt workers rights.....(slang)??Mushrefa Mishu became unbearable with these repeated threats over telephone. Her family is feeling extreme insecure. After publication of news of this matter in some daily newspapers, again she is being threatened, 밆o you think you will be let-up for publishing news in daily newspaper?. Death have already written up at your fate.?br> Let me allow to inform you the Achivement of the Recent Movement and Next Actions

In the wake of recent movement, and against the backdrop of government total failure to protect workers life and ensure safety and security of workers, our organization GWUF has taken some steps. It is to be mentioned here that, the government is spending millions of taka for the Factory Inspectors but it does not yield any result. No government took any effective measure to ensure workers interest and protect their lives for last 30 years since the build up of the garment industry. So, garment owners became atrocious day by day.
The appointed Factory Inspectors by the state remain busy with pleasuring garment owners and engage themselves multiple corruption. Against this uncontrolled prevailing situation, our organization the GWUF has formed a 101-member 멑actory Inspection Committee? who will inspect the garment factories on behalf of the organization. The committee will inspect whether healthy and secured working condition is ensured in garment factories or not. This Committee will also be vigilant to supervise the 멦ripartite Agreement?(government, factory owners and workers leaders) is being implemented properly.
Detailed information and the Background of this Tripartite Agreement are as follows- At the tremendous pressure of the movement and unprecedented workers uprising under leadership of the GWUF, Mushrefa Mishu was arrested (also mentioned earlier) from Gazipur district adjacent to the capital city Dhaka. After her arrest, the movement got impetus and triggered more everywhere. And the government, owners were compelled to comply with the workers some lawful demands. And under the strong protest and demonstration, the government became bound to release the president of GWUF, Mushrefa Mishu on temporary bail recently but all the 26 false cases are still unwithdrawn. The tripartite meeting held its first meet on 24 May, and the second and third one on 1 June and 4 June respectively.
Owners and government have accepted many demands placed by the GWUF in the tripartite agreement. Among the placed demands following have been accepted- weekly holiday, maternity leave, formation wage board, ensure minimum wage, right of trade union, run factory by understanding between workers and owners, workers identity card, appointment letter, 8 hours working time, 2 hours overtime, ensure overtime bill, night bill, increase Piece Rate, establish BEPZA roll for EPZ factories, stop sexual harassment, and abuse to women workers   etc. This Factory Inspection Committee of the GWUF will supervise and monitor whether the accepted demands of the organization are being implemented properly in all factories across the country, or not. The government and factory owners committed to implement the accepted demands in one month (within June). The GWUF is demonstrating and bringing out procession regularly to execute the 멦ripartite Agreement?within the stipulated time. The Inspection Committee will commence its function from July this year. After every regular inspection of garment factories in different specific area, this committee will meet a press conference at every three months interval to public the findings, whether this agreement is being implemented or not. This committee will also inspect the safe and healthy working environment is factory is ensured or not. The Committee will prepare a list of non-compliant factories. And against these non-compliant factories, the GWUF will start waging militant movement and demonstration to force them in implementing the Tripartite Agreement. This Factory Inspection Committee will consist of doctors, lawyers, journalist, university students, women and workers leaders.

Comrade Sonia,
I have tried to inform you the present movement of garment workers in Bangladesh. Please convey this mail to our friend organization of Korea and abroad. Keep well.

In love and Solidarity
Mushrefa Mishu
President, Garment Worker Unity Forum (GWUF)
Dhaka, Bangladesh  

E-mail: g-w-u-f@yahoo.com

Mailing Address:

51/2, North Road (1st Floor)
Green Road, Dhanmondi
Dhaka-1205
Bangladesh    


Prev
   24th MWNEWS Bangla

Mahbub
Next
   Are all Christians are crazy???

aslam


Copyright 1999-2024 Zeroboard / skin by Zetyx

migrants trade union homepage   ||  NO COPYRIGHT! JUST COPYLEFT!
-> 3F medicenter building 70-27 yegwandong joong-gu seoul (100-290)
/ tel : 02-2285-6068 / fax : 02-2269-6166 /Powered by nodong.net modified by MTU

ÀÌÁֳ뵿ÀÚ ³ëµ¿Á¶ÇÕ È¨ÆäÀÌÁöÀÔ´Ï´Ù.   ||  NO COPYRIGHT! JUST COPYLEFT!
-> ¿À½Ã´Â ±æ ¼­¿ï Áß±¸ ¿¹°üµ¿ 70-27 ¹Ìµð¼¾Åͺôµù 3Ãþ 304È£(¿ì100-290)
/ tel ÀüÈ­ : 02-2285-6068 / fax Æѽº : 02-2269-6166 /Powered by ³ëµ¿³Ý modified by MTU


Warning: Unknown: open(data/__zbSessionTMP/sess_194acdbc1774f1e5f000bc967f6e2be6, O_RDWR) failed: Permission denied (13) in Unknown on line 0

Warning: Unknown: Failed to write session data (files). Please verify that the current setting of session.save_path is correct (data/__zbSessionTMP) in Unknown on line 0