Bangladesh labour leaders fearing for physical safety

Since the announcement of the new minimum wage proposal on July 29, the Bangladesh government has been quoted that they will not tolerate any "anarchy" in the garment sector. The minimum wage proposal of 3000 Taka, remains however insufficient to meet the basic needs of workers, who continued their protests on the streets. Arrests warrants have been issued against hundreds of workers and several labour rights leaders.

BCWS and its leaders are particular targets of this government crackdown on worker organizing, blamed for "fomenting unrest and agitation in the garment sector" in an official government brief. Several branches of police are now searching for BCWS staff and leaders, threatening their family members with beatings, harassing colleagues, and attempting various forms of deception in order to identify their place of hiding. BCWS leaders are worried about their own physical safety, as well as that of their families and colleagues, and are in serious danger of unlawful detention and possible inhumane and degrading treatment at the hand of the authorities.

Take action at:
http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent-actions/bangladesh-labour-leaders-fea...

For more information:
* http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent-actions/bangladesh-labour-organisatio...
* Sweatfree Communities: http://www.sweatfree.org/bcwsalert-7-2010