Primark - more violations

On the 24th April, 300 workers at the Belkuchi Knitwear factory in Dhaka, demanded that they were paid their monthly wage for the previous March. For making this demand, 22 workers were sacked.

However, the workers were organised into the National Garment Workers Federation of Bangladesh and were able to enter into negiotiations with the bosses’ syndicate the Bangaldeshi Garment Manufacturers Export Association (BGMEA). The result of the negiotiations was that Belkuchi had to pay up by the end of June. Three months too late, current employees were promised their wages. But the sacked workers remained out of work and would receive nothing. In the greater scheme of things, this remained a massive victory for the Belkuchi bosses.

But despite this, on 29th June, Belkuchi wrote to the BGMEA asking for an extra 10 days. That period is also over and still no payment. Belkuchi has now asked for “at least 3 months” more to pay the money.

At the time when the workers were sacked, they were working on a contract for Primark. Presently the factory is working for another company, although they have produced for Primark for several years.

Primark is a key member in the (largely toothless) Ethical Trading Initiative. The ETI base code states:

• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
• Living wages are paid

Clearly, neither of these principles have been upheld in Primark’s supply chain. The ETI should force Primark into engaging with the factory and supporting the workers’ struggle. We also call on trade unionists working within Primark’s supply chain to solidarise with the Belkuchi workers and get in touch with No Sweat.

** The struggle continues to address the following grievances:
1. There is no appointment letter or contact letter for the workers.
2. There is no fix date of monthly wage payment . Always late payment . Today 13th of July, Management did not made the payment of the month of June. Even some of the times 2 months payments become outstanding.
3. No fix date of monthly overtime payment. Most of the cases it is 20 to 25th of the next month , even outstanding.
4. Did not mention the overtime working time in the attendance card properly . Only mentioned 2 hours every day but works 4-6 hours in a day .
5. Did not count overtime hours properly always less than the real.
6. Overtime payment is less than the normal wage . According to the workers 20% less than the normal wage for some workers and for some equal to normal wage.
7. Every months there are some whole night work mean - 8am to next 4am and again at 8am.
8. Normally no day off per week , only when lacking of work.
9. There are physical torture.
10. Without any reason there are the firing of the workers.
11. No child care center .
12. Maternity leave with out proper wage.

Check for updates regarding future actions...