© deshsangbad.com 06 August 2024 Uncertain times for textile workers after political upheaval in Bangladesh After weeks of protests with hundreds of dead, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned. Military chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announces a transitional government. Employees are concerned that they will not get their full July salary due to the government-declared rest days. European brands must now support workers in their supply chains. After 15 years of protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5. She left Dhaka with a helicopter and fled to India. A little later, the first videos of protesters storming their palace circulated. The protests began in early July with students demonstrating against a job quota system, according to which up to 30 percent of public service jobs were to be awarded to relatives of veterans of the War of Independence against Pakistan (1971). The students criticized the job quota, as these supporters would prefer the head of government Hasina. The quota system was overturned by the Supreme Court, but due to the police's brutal approach to the protesters, which resulted in numerous deaths, the protests expanded to a broader anti-government movement calling for Hasina's resignation. On Sunday, there were 91 deaths, a total of more than 300 people died in the riots. Over 11,000 people have been imprisoned in recent weeks.[i] From our partner organization, the NGWF trade union, the news reaches us that there are also five NGWF members among the dead. A total of 11 textile workers were killed in the protests, over 50 were injured and over 100 were arrested. A few months ago protests on minimum wages in the textile sector Already since October last year, there have been strong protests, after the minimum wage in the textile sector has been increased after five years from 8000 to only 12,500 Taka (105 euros) per month. This hunger wage is not enough to absorb inflation in recent years alone. Prime Minister Hasina spoke disparagingly to the protesters at the time[ii] He did not pay attention to the trade unions' demand for a minimum wage of 23,000 Taka. Until the government elections in January, there was no peace in Bangladesh. The elections under the authoritarian rule of Hasina and her party, the Awami League, were criticized internationally as undemocratic, the largest opposition party BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) boycotted the election in January. Military chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announces interim government Shortly after Hasina's resignation, military chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announces that he wants to form a transitional government. He wants to end the violence and hopes that the situation will improve.[iii] In his first speech, he announced that he wanted to speak with the main opposition party, the BNP, and representatives of civil society. Talks with the Awami League are not planned. He also announced that he would investigate the riots of recent weeks and hold those responsible for the murders to account.[iv] The EU advocates an orderly and peaceful transition to a democratically elected government in full respect of human rights and democratic principles. Impact of the unrest on textile workers In response to the protests, the government imposed nationwide curfews and forced an Internet blackout. In addition, the days from 21 to 23 July and 5 August were declared national rest days once. These measures also have an impact on the economy and work in textile factories, where the principle of ‘no work, no pay’ applies. Our partner organizations express concerns about whether workers will be paid full wages for July and August because the factories have been temporarily closed.[v] The possible loss of wages would have a negative impact on the already financially critical situation of many textile workers. FEMNET therefore encourages all companies shopping in Bangladesh to get in touch with their suppliers and ensure that all workers receive their full wages. Many people in Bangladesh now have the hope that the country's economic situation will improve with a democratically elected government and factory owners are also confident that their export performance will increase in the future. But until the country returns to normal, some time will pass. Many factories are damaged and the protests are expected to delay deliveries.[vi] The brands must now be patient and support their suppliers in the best possible way, without placing additional burdens on them by demanding compliance with deadlines or order cancellations. Thus, it should be ensured that there are no loss of work or wages or that workers have to work overtime after opening the factories. sources [i] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/4/more-than-20-killed-as-bangladesh-protesters-renew-call-for-hasina-to-quit [ii] https://femnet.de/aktuelles/nachrichten/aus-den-produktionslaendern/106-nachrichten-aus-bangladesch/4624-die-zukunft-bangladeschs-was-wird-aus-den-menschen-die-unsere-kleidung-naehen.html [iii] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-05/bangladesh-pm-resigns-following-protests/104186664 [iv] https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/korrespondenten/bangladesch-ausschreitungen-premier-100.html [v] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bangladesch-premier-hasina-ruecktritt-flucht-lux.6AZdjrs4RZH2yCKMVQfLm1 [vi] https://www.yahoo.com/news/bangladesh-turmoil-comes-next-apparel-214230275.html?guccounter=1
