Femnet e.V.

Members of the Textile Alliance, as well as companies that have signed the Bangladesh Accord, are writing a joint letter with the Clean Clothes Campaign to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh regarding the extension of the Accord for at least 6 months.

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Threats and job losses persist, health status of imprisoned trade unionist critical

After it became quieter in the meantime in the reporting of the situation in Myanmar, atrocities of the military once again shape the headlines. The textile workers in particular are suffering from the continuing uncertain situation. Trade unions are calling for economic sanctions against the country and the military, which has now also led to the repositioning of some multi-stakeholder initiatives and brands. Human rights organizations, meanwhile, are calling for the release of the sick imprisoned trade unionist Myo Aye.

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Trade union representatives demonstrate for a minimum wage of 16,000 Taka on 27.7.2018. Photo: © NGWF

The Bangladesh Clothing Industry Employers' Association (BGMEA) has shown extreme contempt for the well-being of workers and their lives outside the factories. On Monday, July 16, BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) proposed setting the minimum wage for workers at 6,360 Taka (approximately €64). This amount does not reach nearly a subsistence wage level in Bangladesh, nor does it remedy the neglect of the required legal minimum wage increase in the last 5 years.

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The situation in Myanmar has calmed down. But the country and its people continue to suffer from the violent reprisals of the military. Speaking to the international trade union federation IndustriALL, trade union president Khaing Zar explains why internal resistance alone is not enough.

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Regular trips by FEMNET employees to our partners in the Southeast Asian production countries ensure that our projects have a local impact. The direct exchange with representatives of trade unions and organisations on the ground gives us important insights and assessments into the developments of the sector, and project projects can be launched according to jointly planned goals. The visit of foreign coordinator Daniela Wawrzyniak and Aika-Maresa Fischbeck, consultant for foreign projects and campaign work, to Dhaka at the end of October 2023 became a reality check: The trip took both of them right into the middle of the current wage negotiations in the textile industry.

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Myanmar is currently facing a double crisis: The devastating earthquake on 28 March 2025 claimed over 2,886 lives (as of 2 April 2025) and triggered a serious humanitarian catastrophe. Buildings, hospitals and roads are destroyed, communication routes are interrupted. For many activists and trade unionists, the earthquake is adding to an already threatening situation. They are not only victims of the destruction caused by the quake, but also continue to be the target of oppression and persecution by the military junta. Just hours after the quake, the junta continued its bombings in the Karen State, an area where many resistance fighters are present.

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The following FEMNET FactSheet was published in May 2018

• Gender-based violence in the clothing industry
• Women in Bangladesh's clothing industry

You can download it here as a PDF file.

With the Bangladesh Accord, building safety in textile factories was to be improved after the factory collapse of Rana Plaza, which killed 1138 people on 24 April 2013. Since then, the safety of workers has improved noticeably. This year, the Accord will be renewed for another three years, but many companies refuse to join the agreement. But why actually? The Swiss CCC asked her, and here are the most popular answers for you.

Demonstration of the NGWF on 10.02.2017. Photo: © NGWFOn Friday, February 10, 2017, the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) and other unions once again demonstrated for improving the tense situation of trade unionists in Bangladesh. Several hundred seamstresses took part in the demonstration in Dhaka.

Your demands are:

1. the release of 25 wrongly imprisoned union members and activists.
2. to drop the illegitimate lawsuits against 11 workers and activists.
3. All unlawfully dismissed 2,600 workers from 65 factories (including 215 NGWF members in 24 factories) must be reinstated
4. The police-closed branches of all trade union federations in Ashulia (NGWF was present here in 12 of 19 factories, 6 of which were illegally closed) and other affected districts of Dhaka, must be reopened so that they can resume their work.
5. the immediate termination of all willful attempts to dissolve 19 factory unions (including 12 from NGWF).
6. to compensate the workers of 84 factories whose wages have been unlawfully withheld.
7. the average wage in all clothing factories must be increased by five percent per year since the last wage increase three years ago, previous arrears must be paid.
8. the wages should be adjusted in the perspective of the cost of living of the workers in order to enable them to live a decent life through a decent wage (‘Living Wage’).
9. an end to the harassment of six trade union leaders, including through the inspection and control of bank accounts of the trade unionists.

Demonstration of the NGWF on 10.02.2017. Photo: © NGWFWorkers in Bangladesh have been protesting peacefully for raising the minimum wage since December 2016 and have been harassed massively. FEMNET e.V. supports the demands of the trade unions as well as the petition of the International Labour Rights Forum (ILRF), which calls on companies such as H&M, C&A or GAP to stand up for illegally arrested workers.

Sign the petition here:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/brands-respect-basic-rights

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.

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Photo: © Kristof VadionBonn. Five years of successful work are coming to an end. The Government of Bangladesh opposes the continued work of ACCORD, the agreement on fire safety and building safety in Bangladesh.

The call ‘Never again Rana Plaza!’ is still echoing. Nevertheless, the current decision of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh is intended to put an end to the further work of ACCORD as of 30 November 2018. "The ACCORD is a credible and effective programme that has ensured around 1600 safe export factories. But the situation in many factories is not yet certain, as European buyers see it, says Gisela Burckhardt, CEO of FEMNET and member of the Clean Clothes Campaign.

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In November 2018, FEMNET organizes a tour of Germany with two activists from Bangladesh and Myanmar. The women report on how seamstresses in the apparel industry are fighting for improved working conditions and explain how consumers can influence them.

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