Bangladesh Government has started releasing jailed garment workers who were arrested in December last year over wage strikes, informed the global union IndustriALL. Demonstrations were organized globally by the union federations UNI and IndustriALL seeking immediate release of arrested Bangladesh garment workers.
A tripartite agreement was reached on February 23 between IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC), Ministry of Labour and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, providing the release of the arrested trade unionists and garment workers. According to the agreement, those remaining will also be freed and cases against them disposed of, reads a statement issued by the IndustriALL.
IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary Valter Sanches has hailed Bangladesh Government for allowing release of the garment workers.
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“The issue that sparked the crackdown on unions at the end of last year still remains. We will continue to support the fight for higher wages and will closely monitor the situation until all charges are dropped,” added Sanches.
The Government has also announced that sacked workers would get back their jobs. More than 1,600 workers from a number of garment factories in the industrial belt of Ashulia were sacked for their alleged involvement in labour unrest in 59 garment factories in December, 2016.
It may be mentioned here that many garment workers were sacked and more than 30 union leaders and workers were arrested and detained over false allegations connected to demonstrations over low wages in the country.
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