NGWF managed to get jobs reinstated of illegally fired union leaders from Top Jeans

What was the problem?
According to the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), WSM's partner in Bangladesh, the management of Dhaka based Top Jeans violated the Labour Act and harassed executive union leaders and active members of the union several times. On 20th of August 2018, the management fired the President of the union. Management did not list the wages of 30 workers, including the union leaders. When they came to know the reason, management allegedly abused the workers, with around 40 thugs who entered the factory and forced them to leave their jobs, as well as ordering them to leave the area. These thugs stabbed one of the workers, who is currently under treatment at Bangladesh Medical of emergency unit. As a result, 30 workers, of which 9 are trade union leaders, cannot enter the factory.


The trade unions demanded

• justice administered to the management and the thugs;
• to cover all medical treatments of the injured workers;
• to reinstate the fired 30 workers with due wage;
• to remove any obstacle to continue union activities;
• to stop harassment of the workers by management and thugs.

Labour protest and compromise reached:
On 30 August, the workers demonstrated and led a procession after the lock out of the factory, gathering solidarity from 80% of the workers. Due to this movement, the traffic in the Uttara area of Dhaka city was halted. Later, an agreement by initiative and mediation by BGMEA and the Federation's was reached with the government representatives, the BGMEA, the factory authorities, the union and the federation. The management was obliged to reinstate the jobs of twenty of the fired workers, including eight of the union leaders.  Work was resumed and factory production is again fully operating.