Where’s the Freedom for Workers in Bangladesh? Don’t Let the Government and Factory Owners Silence Worker’s Voices
Urgent Action Alert: Vital Workers’ Organization Stripped of Legal Status, Staff Member Detained and Beaten by Police
You may have seen the shocking media images of children beaten by the
police in Bangladesh in efforts to crack down on garment worker
protests. Workers are demanding the minimum wage be raised to $72 per
month, which would allow them to pay for basic needs and live with
dignity. The current minimum wage, $25 per month, is so low workers and
their children go hungry. However, most factory owners are not
interested in changing their abusive labor practices and exert enough
pressure over the Bangladeshi government to silence the voices of
workers and their advocates.
Will you send an email today to add your voice in support of Bangladeshi workers?
On June 3, 2010, the government stripped the Bangladesh Center for
Workers Solidarity (BCWS) of their legal status, alleging the
organization was inciting unrest in garment factories. Founded and led
by former garment workers, BCWS is well respected internationally and
trusted by the workers. Even more alarming, BCWS staff member Aminul
Islam was detained by Bangladeshi security forces on June 16., He was
beaten and forced to sign a statement incriminating himself. Mr. Islam
was told he was going to be killed in a staged “cross-fire incident” and
dumped in the jungle where no one would find him, his wife would also
be murdered, and his children would become orphans if he refused to
sign. Mr. Islam was able to escape and is now in hiding unable to stay
with his wife and children.
This crackdown on BCWS’s important work to organize and support workers
will send a clear, chilling message to unions and other organizations
that dare to speak out in defense of workers in Bangladesh. We need
your support now to fight back and show our solidarity with BCWS and the
workers of Bangladesh.
Please send a letter today to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh insisting that BCWS’s legal status be reinstated and
that all harassment of BCWS cease immediately.
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