Struggle
Major struggles and achievements of the NGWF
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 27 years, the organization and its allies operate activities, procession and campaigns in many major areas. The NGWF, during this period, observed many types of action programs, including a number of strikes. And in course it has some considerable achievements such as:1. Organizing and Uniting: The first area is to organize and uniting garment workers, who were unorganized and weak. Due to relentless efforts, the NGWF 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 providing appointment or contract letters to workers, giving ID cards. 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 managements are now paying wages within 7th of the next 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 was not considered as holiday in RMG sector. Because of NGWF campaign and activities 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. NGWF organized campaign and put pressure on the government as well as owners association. As a result minimum wage board for the RMG workers formed. NGWF also playing important role in fix up minimum wage for different grade 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 in its own way, some time jointly with others. As a result now it is all most established.
8. Safe Workplace: Garment workers expire in Fire incident or conflagration was one of the major issues of safe workplace campaign. 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 arrange fire-drill to avert tragic accident.9. Gender discrimination and harassment: from the beginning NGWF involve to address gender discrimination, harassment and
achieve gender equality. And now common people & workers raise their
voice against gender discrimination, which is deep-rooted in the society. The law of the country now forbids gender discrimination in term of wages and gender equality. The NGWF will continue its fight for gender equality.
10. Maternity Leave: NGWF organized a various activities to introduce maternity leave for Female workers. It will take longtime to achieve had paid as some of the factories are providing maternity leave now.
11. Responsibility of the MNC’s (Brands): NGWF become success 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: NGWF is very much keen that fair wage related fair trade/price. MNC,s/Brands all ways depriving the manufacturer’s countries from the fair price of the products. NGWF raised this to ensure Fair Trade.
13. Union Formation and Registration in 2015:NGWF formed 05 new unions in 2015 and accordingly get registration from Labour Department . Now total unions under NGWF are 46.
14. Training and Capacity Building: In 2015, NGWF total 56 training /capacity building session has been conducted and covered 2,219 participants (among them 1,720 female and 499 male) on general membership, Women leadership and leadership.15. Case filing & resolutions in 2015: NGWF total 216 no. cases has been filed and among them 82 no. cases has been resolved.
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16. Factory dispute resolutions in 2015: NGWF total 35 no. factories dispute has been resolved and through the resolution total 12,570 workers get benefit and total amount BDT. 35,91,498,00 in 2015.
17. Direct Achievement in 2015:
(A) The NGWF has achieved three types of direct gains from these activities during this period, in 81 cases of as many victim workers were resolved and they received compensation as per law. The workers received BDT. 19,44,758/- (US $ 24,933) as compensation payment. The 2nd outcome of this victory, other workers of their respective factories become interested about the NGWF and getting organized. The 3rdoutcome of this victory, by arbitrator grievance, during this period, 182 victim workers were resolved and they received BDT 1,639,000/- (US$ 21012.82) as compensation payment.
(B) NGWF resolved with factory management, BGMEA and Labor Ministry and received BDT 15,80,998 (US$ 20269) or 92 victims from Aboni Knit Wear Ltd. Boves Apparels Ltd., A.J.I. Group, & Dipta Garment Ltd. and BDT 11,10,500 (US$ 14237) For 300 victims of Camarina Composite Ltd. received compensation BDT 900,000 (US$ 11,538.46).
