Bangladesh’s garment workers endure repression and injustice: Amnesty report
DHAKA/NEW DELHI: In a shocking revelation, Amnesty International has uncovered the harrowing reality faced by garment workers in Bangladesh, who endure repression and injustice amidst a backdrop of corporate impunity.
Eleven years after the devastating collapse of Rana Plaza, which claimed the lives of over 1,100 workers and left thousands more injured, the garment sector in Bangladesh remains plagued by systemic failures and human rights abuses. The collapse of Rana Plaza was preceded by the Tazreen Fashions fire, where at least 112 workers perished due to negligent workplace conditions.
Despite the filing of compensation claims by the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and other NGOs against both state authorities and private entities, justice remains elusive.
“We call on the government to remove the limits on compensation for occupational injuries under labour law, ensure those affected receive adequate compensation, and introduce a national data repository on workplace deaths and injuries to ensure transparency and fill the current gaps in official data,” stated Nadia Rahman, Amnesty International’s
Deputy Regional Director for South Asia.
She emphasized that rights-based compensation for occupational injuries is far from being realized due to restrictive labour laws and non-compliance issues.
The report highlights the dire conditions under which garment workers operate, characterized by poverty wages, harassment, and violent repression.
In June 2023, Shahidul Islam, a union leader, was murdered while advocating for unpaid wages.
His death is among the many instances of violence faced by workers campaigning for better pay and conditions.
In the last year, at least 35 criminal cases were initiated against garment workers participating in protests, affecting tens of thousands.
These cases often serve as a means to intimidate and silence dissent within the ranks of labour, making it risky for workers to seek justice or claim compensation for injuries.
The crackdown extends to union leaders and activists, many of whom have been detained under dubious charges, further stifling advocacy efforts.
The use of excessive force by police during wage-related protests has been particularly alarming.
In one documented incident, officers fired over 200 shotgun rounds to disperse protestors, a clear violation of international human rights standards which dictate that force should only be used as a last resort.
Amnesty’s findings are a clarion call to the Bangladeshi government to uphold labour rights and provide adequate redress to victims of workplace abuses.