News - #SolidarityWorks! Members of the trade unions of textile workers NGWF, BRGWF, AGWF during the hunger strike in front of the national press club in Dhaka. © NGWF 22 June 2020 Hunger strike to protest coronavirus-related layoffs in Bangladesh In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, precarious working conditions in the clothing industry are becoming apparent. Redundancies and wage losses continue: Another 3,000 textile workers have been laid off from now on. They react with protest and a symbolic hunger strike. Reports of layoffs of textile workers in Bangladesh are increasing. According to our partner organisation, the NGWF trade union, textile workers have recently been laid off again: 3000 workers of the Windy Group. The Windy Group is also a supplier to the fashion companies H&M and ZARA. The redundancies relate to three of Windy Group's eight factories, including Saybolt Tex Ltd., Windy Wet & Dry Porcess Ltd. and Tanaz Fashions Ltd. Textile workers call for the reinstatement of 3,000 dismissed workers and an end to the targeted dismantling of trade unions. © NGWF There are clear violations of applicable labour law. In particular, according to the NGWF, action is being taken against workers who are engaged and organizing in the factories for labour rights. In the attempt to form company unions, these same workers were specifically dismissed. In a press release, NGWF (National Garment Workers Federation), Bangladesh Revolutionary Garment Workers Federation (BRGWF) and Akota Garment Workers Federation (AGWF) are calling for the reinstatement of the dismissed 3,000 textile workers and for a halt to the dismantling of trade unions. In line with these demands, a symbolic hunger strike took place in front of the national press club in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
