The managements of six local garment factories have compensated some 984 or about 92 per cent of the terminated workers and committed to withdraw criminal cases filed against them. The move came following an agreement — Global Framework Agreement (GFA) — signed between IndustriAll Global Union and Swedish retailer H&M, according to a recent statement issued by the rights group. Out of 1,074 dismissed workers from the factories, some 76 workers who have not responded so far are requested to visit the respective factories anytime within this year to claim the termination benefits. There was no mention about the remaining four in the statement, however. Quoting Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL director for textile and garment industry, the statement said: “It is an important achievement that a large number of workers received termination benefits. The NMC (national monitoring committee) worked hard to implement IndustriALL’s GFA with H&M in Bangladesh, and we congratulate them for their successful efforts.” The IndustriALL and its affiliates launched a global campaign against the 2016 Ashulia repression and called on H&M to intervene. In December 2016, Bangladesh garment workers demanded an increase in minimum wages, it said, adding that the employers and the government responded with repression on trade union activities, incarceration and terminations for thousands of workers. Following the call, H&M issued three conditions to its suppliers from the Ashulia area. The conditions are: withdrawal of the criminal cases filed by the six RMG suppliers, reinstatement of the wrongfully dismissed workers and actively commit to engage with the NMC in order to achieve well functioning industrial relations. The NMC, set up to monitor the implementation of IndustriALL’s GFA with H&M in Bangladesh worked together with the brand representatives and held series of meetings starting in March, with its six suppliers, including Artistic Design (Ha-Meem Group), Windy Apparels, Rose Dresses Ltd., Sharmin Apparels Ltd., Fountain Garments Ltd. and Dekko Design Ltd, according to the statement. Representatives of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also participated in the process. Following hard negotiations during the meetings, it was agreed by the factory managements that they will withdraw charges and call for the disposal of pending cases in accordance with legal procedure.
