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Obstruction of Freedom of Association, Bangladesh - 2024

 

Male worker in a spinning mill

© Marcel Crozet / ILO CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

On 15 February 2024, union organisers and activists of the Akota Garment Worker Federation (AGWF) in Bangladesh were beaten, threatened, and subsequently hospitalised. The attack followed an attempt by workers of the Libas Textiles factory in Gazipur, to establish a factory union that would join the AGWF.

The factory union had filed for registration according to the law in July 2023 but were denied registration. Bangladesh labour law is restrictive in allowing new unions to organise, and often arbitrary in its application on union’s registration requests. The workers' urge to unionise followed increased production targets and sustained verbal abuse of workers.

The attack on the two union representatives (Shariful Islam and Jagdish Babu), in front of the factory gates, has had a chilling effect on the factory level union, which under threat of further violence, abduction, and even death has suspended all activity. Soon after the attacks union leaders avoided to sleep at home, fearing for further attacks.

 

Basic Information

Case ID: 2024-002

Identification Number from Open Supply Hub (OS-ID): BD202005362ZFCM

Open supply hub link

Affected Country: Bangladesh

Date of occurrence: 2024-02-15

Social Sector Risks concerned:

  • Freedom of association and collective bargaining (Conventions Nr. 11 & 87 & 98 & 135 & 141 & 154; Recommendations Nr. 91 & 143)

Supplier Details

Libas Textiles Ltd.
Jabber Tower, Level – 11 42, Gulshan Avenue, Gulshan – 1 –

Dhaka

1212

Bangladesh

Supplier Website: https://libastex.com

Production Site

Libas Textiles Ltd.
address not available

Nischintapur, Mowchak

Gazipur

Bangladesh 

Known certifications:

  • ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System)
  • Laboratory Accreditations by H&M
  • Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
  • Organic Content Standard (OCS)
  • Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)
  • The Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex)
  • OEKO-Tex Standard 100
  • Letter of Recognition “ACCORD on Fire & Building Safety in Bangladesh"

Source of information about certifications:
https://libastex.com


Total number of workers/employees:
5.000

No gender specific information available.

Workers movement

There are unions active.

Name(s) of union(s) :
in foundation

Source of information about unions:
https://cleanclothes.org/news/2024/union-activists-in-bangladesh-beaten-and-threatened-for-exercising-their-right-to-organise

No information about workers commitee available.

Business Relations

Known Buyer/Brands:

  • Aldi Süd Dienstleistungs-GmbH
  • C&A Mode GmbH & Co. KG
  • H&M Hennes & Mauritz B.V. & Co. KG
  • NKD Group GmbH



At least one of the buyers has the duty to report according to the Supply Chain Act / CSDDD.

Follow up

Are there any reactions to the follow up: no information

Sources

Name of reporting organisation: Clean Clothes Campaign

Source of information about the case:

https://cleanclothes.org/news/2024/union-activists-in-bangladesh-beaten-and-threatened-for-exercising-their-right-to-organise

Contributor: SÜDWIND

 

  • Last updated on .

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