Garment Industries In Bangladesh : At present, there are 5000 garment factories in Bangladesh
EPZ (Export Processing Zone) / FTZ: In
Bangladesh,there are 8 EPZ (Export Processing
Zone) / FTZ. Among these 8 EPZ,
there are 325 factories. In 2 EPZ there
is no garment factories. In the
other 6 EPZ, there are more than 220 garment factories on which more than 200,000 garment
workers are working. These 220 garment factories also 100% export oriented. There are 3 Type of Ownership in side
the EPZ factories: A.100%
foreign investment. B.Joint venture. C. Local / National.
For Local Market : Besides, these 5000 and 220 garment factories outside and inside EPZ, there are
more several thousands garment factories in Bangladesh. These several thousand
factories produce for local market and small in size like 10 to 100 workers.
Main Importers : Garment is the biggest industrial
sector in Bangladesh
EU, USA and CANADA . Recently export started in some other countries, including Australia, New Zealand & Japan.
Types of garment
productions : Mainly 3 types
of garment products are produce in Bangladesh. These are: Woven , Knit and Sweater.
CONDITION
OF GARMENT WORKERS
In Bangladesh, there are 4.2 million garment workers working in 5000 plus garment factories. 85% of the workers are women. Though
garment is the biggest industrial sector and covering major portion of export earning (81%), the condition of the Garment workers is still inhuman. They work with lowest wages for longest working hours in unsafe working conditions. Many of the Workers
do not have the Appointment letter/contact
letter, Service book, Identity card, Wage slip. Most of the workers do not have the housing
facilities, Provident fund, Social security or Medical facilities. In most of the cases factory management do not provide Transportation facilities. Many
of the workers work 14 to 16 hours per day and many cases for 7-day in a week.
The garment workers are the lowest paid workers of the country. In 1994 Government had declared Minimum wage for the
garment workers (sewing machine helper) was Tk.930/ ($13) per month. After 12 years, in 2006 government declared minimum wage for the lowest (sewing machine helper) as
TK1662/ ($ 23) per month. As a
result of strong campaign and struggle, in the year of 2010 minimum wage declared as TK 3000/ ( $ 36) per month (for sewing helper, grade no-7) and in 2013, minimum wage increased to TK5,300 ($65.43). In the mean time price
of commodities have hiked but garment workers wage did not increased. So, life of the garment workers are affecting due to low wage.
According to the law of the country, garment workers have the trade union rights (Right to organize and Right to bargaining, ILO convention 87 and 98). But in reality, the unionization rate is very very low.
Women workers are facing more problem than their male colleagues. Many cases women workers are not getting the maternity leave. Most of the factories do not have child care center. They face discrimination
in wage, rights, dignity and promotion.
NATIONAL GARMENT WORKERS FEDERATION (NGWF)
The National Garment
Workers Federation (NGWF) is an active registered countrywide trade union
federation of garment workers in Bangladesh
Total membership of the
federation is 68,525. Of them 40,100 are women & 28,425 men. The NGWF has 24 full time staff . Among the 30 central executives of the NGWF, 17 including the General
Secretary, two Vice-Presidents and Treasurer, are women.
Members of the federation
elect the Central Executive Committee. Election held biannually during National Council (Congress). Main financial source of the federation is
subscription of its members. Many of its activities also done in partnership
with democratic trade unions,
woman organizations, NGOs and development organizations. NGWF is the initiator
and one of member organization of Bangladesh Garment Workers
Unity Council (an umbrella organization of 10 garment workers federation). NGWF is also one of the member organization of
conciliation cum arbitration committee (a joint body of 8 registered garment workers federations and BGMEA
for conciliation and arbitration of labour dispute).
The NGWF is affiliated with ITGLWF and TWARO. National Garment Workers Federation is being involved with all the important struggles , including several strikes, of garment workers since 1984,
The NGWF is affiliated with ITGLWF and TWARO. National Garment Workers Federation is being involved with all the important struggles , including several strikes, of garment workers since 1984,
Mission and Vision
of the NGWF:
a. Ensuring fair wages for the workers.
a. Ensuring fair wages for the workers.
b.
Establishing workers’ rights and Human
rights.
c.
Ensure equal wages, equal rights and
equal promotion for the women workers.
d.
Improve working condition and
environment in workplaces.
e.
Struggle to establish a democratic,
develop and progressive society.
f.
Eliminate gender discrimination from
the working class and society.
Main activities :
1. Organize and unite the garment workers.
2. Formation of plant (factory) level trade unions and
coordinate factory-based struggles.
3. Initiate and conduct countrywide campaign and fight
for the betterment of garment workers.
4. Support, cooperate and conduct factory base campaign
and struggle of the workers.
5. Organize countrywide campaign for better wage
structure for the garment workers.
6. Lobbying with the government, civil society and other
stake-holders for the betterment of garment workers.
7. Raising of awareness among garment workers.
8. Organizing training and education programs for the garment workers and organizers.
8. Organizing training and education programs for the garment workers and organizers.
9. Conducting special training and education programs for
the women workers.
10. Providing
legal aid to the members and garment workers.
11. Publish
workers’ magazines, news letters and other materials for the garment workers in
local and easy language.
12.
Cooperate with
the unemployed and dismissed workers to get new jobs.
13. Enhance awareness among workers on health, environment and provide health facilities
to them.
14. Organize meetings,
rallies, processions, demonstrations, seminars and symposiums for the garment
workers.
15.Support and participate in the
struggles of workers of other sectors for democratic rights and women
emancipation.
16.Actively participate in social trade
unionism.
17.Building solidarity with international
trade unions, democratic and women struggles.
The
NGWF continues to fight for the establishment of rights and improvement of life
of the garment workers in Bangladesh from its very inception in 1984.
During the last 32 years, the organization
and it allies launched activities, struggles and campaigns in many major areas.
The NGWF, during this period, implemented many types of action programs, including
a number of strikes. And in
course of time, the NGWF has some considerable achievements such as:
One of the major success is realization of compensation for the victims of Rana Plaza building collapse &Tazreen factory fire. The compensation was paid as per the definition of 'loss of earning'.
One of the major success is realization of compensation for the victims of Rana Plaza building collapse &Tazreen factory fire. The compensation was paid as per the definition of 'loss of earning'.
1.Organizing and Uniting : The first area is to organize and uniting garment
workers, who were unorganized and weak. Due to relentless efforts, the NGW
became successful in organizing and uniting a considerable number of workers
and it has
emerged
as the largest organization of the RMG sector in the country.
2.Legal Documents for the
Workers : The second was
launching struggles to force the
factory owners and managements to provide legal rights to the workers such as
introduction of appointment or contract letter, ID card and service book. As a result of the campaign, a
number of factories are providing appointment or contract letters to workers. Those factories also giving ID cards to workers.
3.Regularities in monthly payment: NGWF organized campaigns and a lot of actions for
monthly payment regularly and in time (within 7th of the next month
). Because of these activities now most of the management are now paying wages within
7th day of the month.
4. Introducing Weekly Holiday and other
Holidays : NGWF organized a lot of action
for the implementation weekly holiday and other holidays. Now many of the factories
are abiding by the law and introduced holidays.
5. Implementation of May Day as paid
Holiday : Earlier May Day
holiday was not implemented in the RMG sector. Because of NGWF campaign and
actions, May Day Holiday is fully implemented in the RMG sector.
6.Wage Board and wage Increase : Earlier there was no minimum
wage board for the garment workers . Different factories were paying according
to their own choice . The NGWF organized campaign and put pressure to the
government as well as factory owners association. As a result, minimum wage board for
the RMG workers formed. NGWF also playing important role for the fixing up the
minimum wage for different grades of RMG workers.
7. Festival Bonus : Earlier festival bonus was not following in the garment sector. NGWF did a lot to realize festival bonus, some time on its own way, some time jointly with others. As a result, now the festival bonus is all most established in the RMG sector.
7. Festival Bonus : Earlier festival bonus was not following in the garment sector. NGWF did a lot to realize festival bonus, some time on its own way, some time jointly with others. As a result, now the festival bonus is all most established in the RMG sector.
8. Safe Workplace : Factory-fire and
garment workers death were one of the
major issues. NGWF organized and till organizing campaign for safe workplace and congenial
working atmosphere. As a result of this campaign, management of many factories
stop locking factory gate, constructed emergency exit way and had hold
fire-drill to avert tragic accident.
9.Sex discrimination
and harassment : From the very beginning NGWF is involve in actions to stop sexual discrimination, harassment and achieve gender
equality. The law of the country now
forbids gender discrimination in term of wages and appointment in job. A large
section of the people, including workers, are now voicing protest against
gender discrimination,
which is deep-rooted in the society. It will take longtime to achieve gender
equality. The NGWF has and will continue its fight against gender inequality.
10. Maternity
Leave : NGWF organized a lot of activities for introducing maternity leave for woman
workers. The struggles had paid as some of the factories are providing paid maternity leave now.
11. Responsibility of the
MNC,s ( Brands ): The NGWF become successful to bring at least some of
the MNC,s to share responsibilities with the local factories in the case of
fire, workers death and other emergency needs.
12. Fair wage Fair Trade:
The NGWF is very much keen that
fair wage has relation with fair trade/ price. MNC,s / Brands always
depriving the manufacturing countries from the fair price of the products. The NGWF
raised the issue in all forums to ensure Fair Trade and fair wage .
Amirul Haque Amin
President
National
Garment Workers Federation
