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13 Dec 2000, No Freedom of Association for Bangladesh's
Export Processing Zones Workers
Dear Friends,
Below is a press release issued by TIE-Asia, in response to an
article that
appeared in "The Independent" a daily english newspaper,
while I was
recently in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
If you would like further information on this issue please contact
me.
Thanks,
Kelly
P R E S S R E L E A S E
EPZ WORKERS DENIED THEIR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS
The ongoing battle between the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers
and
Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Government of Bangladesh over
the
rights of workers to form unions, organise and collectively bargain
in the
Export Processing Zones (EPZ's) of Bangladesh will do nothing to
assist and
advance the rights of workers in these zones said Ms Kelly Dent,
Coordinator of TIE-Asia, a regional labour Network. The Government
of
Bangladesh is under increasing pressure from the Government of the
USA to
allow workers to unionise in the EPZ's. While the Government of
Bangladesh
and the BGMEA may disagree over the detail, neither is in favour
of
unconditional Freedom of Association.
The basic premise of the argument advanced by the BGMEA is that
unions
should not exist in the Zones. Their compromise is that a referendum
should
be held amongst workers of the EPZ's in which Management, the employers,
would explain to workers the idea of a Workers Welfare Committee
(WWC).
Should workers vote in favour of such a committee, then, the Bangladesh
Export Processing Zone Authority would select, workers to serve
on these
committees. Workers would at no stage have the opportunity to elect
representatives to advocate for their rights. This proposal is seriously
flawed and seeks to manipulate and increase control over workers
rather
than allow them their basic human rights.
A similar system to the one proposed by the BGMEA was introduced
in Sri
Lanka in 1992, this system has been a failure for workers, who have
now
organised democratic and independent trade unions in the Zones.
TIE-Asia urges the government to allow workers full freedom to
form unions
of their choosing, organise and collectively bargain at the factory,
Zone,
Regional and National Level, in accordance with ILO Conventions
and the
Constitution of Bangladesh. The recent tragic series of fires in
garment
factories in Bangladesh highlight this urgent need for workers to
have a
say in the workplace and for their rights and lives to be protected.
Kelly Dent
2nd December 2000
CONTACT DETAILS
+94 74 617 711
tieasia@sri.lanka.net
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