The Bangladeshi National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) led a rally through the streets of Dhaka on 29 March to demand the withdrawal of false charges against workers, the reinstatement of more than 11,000 workers, and an end to blacklisting activists from gaining new employment.
UNI Global Union stands with the as it struggles to advance the rights of the country’s ready-made garment workers.
“Workers should not have to face harassment, coercion, and blacklisting simply for wanting fair pay and safe jobs, has to stop,” said Mathias Bolton, Head of UNI Commerce. “We stand with the NGWF’s call for the respect of workers’ rights in Bangladesh.”
At the rally, speakers, including Amirul Haque Amin, President of the NGWF, urged to the garment factory owners and the Bangladesh government to fulfil demands, such as:
- The immediate withdrawal of false cases filed against more than 3,000 workers.
- The reinstatement of more than 11,000 workers who have been fired from 105 factories.
- An end to harassment the blacklisting of activists.
- The proper implementation of the new fixed wages in all factories.
Additionally, ralliers asked the international community to shine a light on abuses in Bangladesh.
Other speakers at the event included: General Secretary of the Federation Mrs Arifa Akhter, Central Leader Miss Safia Parvin, Md. Rafiqul Islam Rafiq, Md. Faridul Islam, Md. Kabir Hossain, H Rabiul Chowdhury, Nasima Akter, Esrat Jahan Ela.
