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No end in sight - Bangladeshi seamstresses continue to fight for their existence

Many large export factories in Bangladesh are producing again. However, the overall capacity utilisation has not yet been reached and many seamstresses remain without work. At the same time, under the pretext of the corona crisis, labour rights are curtailed and trade unionists are dismissed.

According to the Dhaka Tribune newspaper, 36 million people She lost her job for two months during the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, many large export factories are producing again, which according to their own statements are currently 80% utilized. The smaller and medium-sized factories, on the other hand, have less work and therefore employ fewer workers. However, many workers have not been reinstated. Under the pretext of the corona crisis, factories have fired specially organized trade unionists. Thousands of workers are fighting for survival, and the prices of medicine, electricity and transport have also risen. According to the BGMEA business association, around 76% of factories paid their wages for June on 17 July 2020, but around 24% did not.

After the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis at the end of March 2020, the government of Bangladesh provided an aid package of USD 590 million for factory owners to pay wages. Meanwhile, the producers are calling for another aid fund because they fear that they will not have enough orders to pay the workers from September.

How our local partner works for those affected:

With the donations from the Corono Emergency Fund, the trade union NGWF Emergency food aid for 725 families of textile workers. In addition, important educational work has been carried out. NGWF has distributed over 1000 information brochures on COVID-19 and prevention measures.

The union continuously monitors factory closures, reports of workers on leave or laid off, and still outstanding wage payments. This critical situation requires strong countermeasures. For example, NGWF will continue to support emergency food aid and the expansion of strong trade unions, and we will support them with our Corona Emergency Fund.