On the occasion of the anniversary, the President of the National Garment Workers Federation emphasizes the urgency to focus more on the concerns of women in the clothing industry.
On the occasion of the anniversary, the President of the National Garment Workers Federation emphasizes the urgency to focus more on the concerns of women in the clothing industry.© NGWF

For 35 years: Largest trade union in the textile industry celebrates anniversary in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's oldest and largest trade union federation for textile workers, the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), is turning 35. The association was founded in 1984 and now has 92,440 members and 86 registered trade unions at factory level.

Many of the successes and partial successes achieved in Bangladesh's textile sector over the years were initiated by NGWF, almost all of which were significantly shaped by the trade union. These include:

  1. the signing of the Building and Fire Protection Accord
  2. the Compensation for the victims of the Rana Plaza collapse
  3. Compensation for the victims of the Tazreen fire
  4. The introduction of May 1st as a paid national holiday
  5. the introduction of the ‘festival bonus’ on the occasion of the Muslim breaking of the fast after Ramadan (comparable to our Christmas bonus)
  6. the introduction of a free day of the week for workers
  7. the introduction of maternity leave
  8. the establishment of a Board (Minimum Wages Board) to advise the Government the regular increase of the sector-wide minimum wage – even if it is mostly scandalously low and often not paid by all factories
  9. the introduction of formal contracts for workers.

On July 22, 2019, NGWF organized its 35th Annual Meeting. Founding ceremony a panel discussion under the motto: "Transforming the Bangladeshi garment industry into a women-friendly industry!" In addition to this main concern, the current struggle for a living wage, freedom of association and safety in the workplace will continue, announced Amirul Haque Amin, President of the National Garment Workers Federation, NGWF, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the founding of the National Garment Workers Federation. Founding anniversary at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Dr. Gisela Burckhardt congratulated NGWF on behalf of FEMNET on the successes to date:

“We wish our long-standing partner NGWF continued strength and success in its fight for fair wages and better working conditions.

Focusing on women's concerns is an important signal given the widespread discrimination, violence and harassment in Bangladeshi factories. against violence, which we very much welcome!”