June 21, 2006
Settlement reached in Cote
Sud case
After
nearly two years of trying to get her job back,
the illegally-dismissed workers’ representative
Sabine Razafindranisa (“Nisa”) has settled
her case with the Cote Sud factory in Madagascar.
Mrs Sabine Razafindranisa (Nisa)
Worn down by the struggle to push management to
reinstate her to her position and compelled by financial
need Nisa, a mother of four now just months away
from retirement, opted to accept payment for the
salary owed to her from the date of her dismissal
and for the remaining months before she will retire
at age 55. She has been promised retirement compensation
of 20,000 ariary per month (approximately 7 euros).
Despite the Ministry of Labor’s request
that Cote Sud, a supplier for US-based Gloria
Vanderbilt (part of the Jones Apparel Group),
reinstate Nisa, management refused to budge and
Jones was slow to take up the case. Constant delays
and broken promises coupled with an extremely
difficult financial situation in the end resulted
in Nisa making the difficult decision to settle
her case.
While international pressure pushed the Jones
Apparel Group into action, their efforts were
too little, too late and failed to secure reinstatement
for Nisa. Jones clearly still has far to go in
ensuring good working conditions at their supply
factory, particularly workers' rights to freely
associate and raise grievances with management.
Outstanding labor rights issues at Cote Sud include:
dismissing workers when they are sick or pregnant,
refusing sick workers permission to seek medical
care, misuse of temporary contracts, compulstory
overtime, extremely low wages. Jones has stated
that they will continue to work on addressing
outstanding issues at Cote Sud.
Nisa’s case has done much to highlight the
unsatisfactory working conditions at Cote Sud
and the precarious position of workers who dare
to speak out in defense of their legal rights.
The CCC would like to thank everyone who participated
in the international solidarity campaign calling
for Nisa’s reinstatement. Though the reinstatement
demand was not met these activites helped raise
awareness of the situation garment workers face
in Madagascar.
The CCC will continue to monitor the situation
to ensure that the terms of Nisa’s settlement
are fulfilled and that outstanding issues at Cote
Sud are addressed.
