April 23, 2014

The Honorable Secretary

Ministry of Labour and Employment
Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
Government Secretariat
Dhaka, Bangladesh
E-mail: info@mole.gov.bd
Dear Honorable Secretary:
We are writing to draw your attention to an urgent matter of anti-union violence and
intimidation against workers at the Raaz RMG Washing Plant Ltd. in Kamarjuri, Gazipur.
The company provides services to RMG factories in the area that include: the ABBA
Group; Sadma Garments Ltd.; Ehsan Garments Ltd.; Onus Garments Ltd.; Givenchy
Garments Ltd.; Lenny Fashions Ltd.; Hasan Tanvir Fashion Wear Ltd. Uni Gias Ltd.;
Alauddin Garments Ltd.; Moon Light Garments Ltd.; Debonier Garments Ltd.; Ripon
Garments Ltd.; Speed Garments Ltd.; Bakharabad Garments Ltd.; New Line Garments
Ltd.; Pant Style Garments Ltd.; and Lily Fashion Ltd.
Workers at the factory recently organized to address chronic problems in the workplace
including managements failure to pay workers for number of hours worked, forced
overtime and other labor law violations. The workers formed the Raaz Workers
Employees Union with the assistance of Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation (SGSF),
which received registration on January 16, 2014. The unions registration number is
4846.
Since the union received registration, the factorys management has subjected the
unions executive committee and other members to brutal, illegal and extreme anti-
union practices, which include physical assault and prohibiting union leaders from
working at the factory. Specific instances reported by workers include:
The following factory-level union leaders and members have been prevented
from returning to work at the factory by management in retaliation for their
union activity:
Worker Name Work Title Work
ID
Union
Designation
Date Prevented
from Working
Md Shafikul Islam Wash Operator 2337 Vice-President 27.02.2014
Md. Masud Rana Wash Operator 2368 Organizational
Secretary
27.02.2014
Md. Abdul Jalil Store Officer 2158 Executive
Member
25.03.2014
Jahirul Islam Wash Operator 1565 Union Member 20.03.2014
Md. Liton Finishing Dry
Operator
934 Union Member 18.03.2014
Nirob Wash Operator 1560 Union Member 23.03.2014
Shefali Begum Assistant Wash
Operator
2418 Union Member 22.02.2014
Setara Begum Assistant Wash
Operator
2416 Union Member 22.02.2014
Sabina Begum Assistant Wash
Operator
2417 Union Member 22.02.2014
Mijanur Rahman Supervisor 2008 Union Member 22.02.2014
In addition to the ten workers listed above, beginning on April 14, 2014 an
additional 26 union members have been prevented from working at the factory
including Sk. Farid, another executive committee member.
Rozina, the unions treasurer who is pregnant, has been forced to work the night
shift against her will. She has repeatedly asked management to allow her to
work during the day for health reasons but as an active union member and
leader, the management refuses to allow her to work the day shift.
In order to effectively breed negative feelings toward the union in an attempt to
dismantle it, management has raised the wages of non-union members while
keeping the wages of union workers stagnant.
On April 16, 2014, a manager and compliance officer brought Nazrul Islam, the
unions general secretary, into an office where he was beaten by a local thug in
the service of management for submitting complaints to government authorities
for anti-union activity. Following the assault, he was removed from the factory
and told not to return. Management also told the worker they would press false
criminal charges against him for continued union activity.
The union and the SGSF have discussed the anti-union behavior and filed complaints
with the JDL (most recently on April 12, 2014). However no action has been taken to
remedy the situation.
We are deeply concerned about the above described pattern of anti-union violence and
intimidation of workers at the Raaz washing plant and respectfully request your urgent
attention to these matters. We look forward to learning of a prompt resolution to the
unfair labor practices, prosecution of any criminal acts and an immediate reinstatement
of workers with back wages.
Regards,
Alonzo Glenn Suson
Country Program Director
Solidarity Center
Bangladesh
CC:
1. The Director of Labour
Department of Labour
4, Rajuk Avenue
Dhaka
2. The Joint Director of Labour
Office of the Register of Trade Unions
Dhaka Division
196, Shahid Sayed Nazrul Islam Sharani
Dhaka-1000
3. The President
Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation (SGSF)