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International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF) slammed a garment factory - Suhi Industrial Park Ltd - for violating the rights of its workers and their union.
The Belgium-based ITGLWF has informed the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) of the matter.
The ITGLWF has also raised the matter with Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury, Industries Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami and State Minister for Labour and Employment Amanuallah Aman.
It has also discussed the matter with the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Belgium, Syed Maudud Ali
At the Dhaka International Conference on the phase-out of MFA held on December 4, 2004, Neil Kearney, general secretary of ITGLWF, drew attention to the situation of some 1,200 workers employed at the Suhi Industrial Park Ltd who were demanding one day off a week and that they be paid on time.
Kearney said, "The workers began to organise with the assistance of the Shadhin Bangla Garment Workers and Employees Federation, in order to improve their working conditions. There were disputes, including strike action, after which a settlement was reached. However, on November 30, after the Eid holiday, the owner closed the factory without notice and without paying the November salary and accrued payments.
"After I left Bangladesh, the owners of the factory became angry that the workers had raised this issue with the ITGLWF, and started a new wave of assault against them."
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