Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA3695
2005-08-01 06:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

BEPZA AND RING SHINE FACTORY MANAGER COMPLAIN OF

Tags:  ELAB PGOV ETRD BG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 003695 

SIPDIS

LABOR COLLECTIVE

SENSITIVE

STATE PASS TO USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV ETRD BG
SUBJECT: BEPZA AND RING SHINE FACTORY MANAGER COMPLAIN OF
LABOR UNREST


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 003695

SIPDIS

LABOR COLLECTIVE

SENSITIVE

STATE PASS TO USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV ETRD BG
SUBJECT: BEPZA AND RING SHINE FACTORY MANAGER COMPLAIN OF
LABOR UNREST



1. (SBU) Summary: BEPZA Executive Chairman Hossain and
factory representatives from Bangladesh's two largest export
processing zones met with CDA to take issue with the recently
filed AFL-CIO GSP petition. They alleged that nascent labor
unrest in the EPZs was the result of "outside influences,"
claiming a consistent pattern of escalation in several recent
incidents. End summary.


2. (SBU) On July 25, Charge d'Affaires met at the Embassy
with Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA)
Executive Chairman Mohammed Zakir Hossain; Youngone Group
President Peter Bauer; and Youngone Advisor to the Chairman
A.S.A Nur. Also present were Hsiao Hai He, Director of Ring
Shine Textiles, M.D.J. Kim, A-One (BD) Ltd., and M. Nasir
Uddin, Chairman of Pacific Jeans. Chief Economic Officer and
Labor Officer (note taker) also attended this one hour and 15
minute meeting.


3. (SBU) Hossain began by describing BEPZA's implementation
of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) law, forged last year
from extensive discussions among the BDG, BEPZA, and AFL-CIO
through the locally-based American Center for Labor
Solidarity (ACILS or Solidarity Center.) As of mid-July, 171
out of 183 EPZ factories had completed elections. He said
the remaining 37 factories (out of 220 EPZ factories) were
not required to hold elections at this time. He expressed
satisfaction with the conduct of these elections, the first
ever labor elections held in the EPZs, saying there were few
allegations of irregularities.

4. (SBU) Hossain defended the pace of the election process,
citing the time required to educate workers about both the
election process and the function of the Workers' Recreation
and Welfare Committees (WRWC) established under the law. He
claimed that elections have been held in nearly 95% of the
eligible factories within 12 months of the adoption of the
EPZ Law on July 18, 2004. He argued that BEPZA and the
factory owners were acting in good faith to implement the
law's requirements in a timely manner.


5. (SBU) Hossain addressed recent strikes and work stoppages
at several EPZ factories. He noted strikes in the EPZ are
illegal, and attributed the unrest to "outside influences."
He also claimed that some worker demands were not yet subject

to negotiation, citing wage demands and demands related to
hiring, firing and disciplining of administrative and
supervisory personnel. He attributed these demands to
misinformation from "outside influences," and noted efforts
by BEPZA to continue worker education, including the recent
hiring of 65 counselors, tasked with mediating between
workers and management to resolve any problems.


6. (SBU) Youngone's Peter Bauer echoed Hossain's key points.
Clearly angry, he pointed out that the EPZ law was negotiated
with ACILS' input. For AFL-CIO to file a new petition so
soon after the law took effect was "duplicitous" and an act
of bad faith, he said. Bauer argued that "the law is being
implemented" but it takes time, as "they (the laborers) don't
really understand what it means to negotiate; we taught the
(WRWC) at Youngone on what they need to do." He referred to
as "devious" AFL-CIO's offer to train workers in factories,
saying, "they never offered to train workers at Youngone."


7. (SBU) Bauer argued that a clear pattern was evident from
recent incidents at seven EPZ factories, which pointed to an
organized effort by "outside influences" to disrupt labor
relations. In each case, Bauer claimed, WRWCs would make one
or two small demands, often involving wages. Once management
agreed to discuss or accept the demands, new demands were
made, until an impasse was reached, usually over demands that
supervisors or administrative personnel be disciplined or
fired (issues, he claims, that are not subject to negotiation
under this phase of the law.) At this point, an incident
would occur, usually involving an assault by workers on a
supervisor or damage to factory property, followed by work
stoppages, strikes and lockouts. Bauer said he worried that
this pattern would continue at other factories in the EPZ.


8. (SBU) Hossain, Bauer, and Hsiao Hai He, Director of Ring
Shine Textiles, addressed recent problems at Ring Shine.
According to media reports, on July 20, up to 200 workers at
Ring Shine were injured when police used batons to break up
striking textile laborers. Workers reportedly demanded the
removal of abusive supervisors and the withdrawal of
management complaints against workers expressing their views.
According to ACILS, workers had complained about an abusive
foreign technical supervisor. The supervisor had threatened
a laborer with a steam iron and the worker defended himself,
with other workers coming to his aid. ACILS confirmed that
workers assaulted the supervisor and coworkers, but said the
assault was triggered by the supervisor's assault on the
factory worker, resulting in severe burn injuries to the
worker.


9. (SBU) Hsiao denied the alleged assault by the supervisor.
Hossain claimed the injured employee could not be identified
and that no one with injuries consistent with steam burns had
sought medical treatment at the factory or elsewhere. Bauer
said the incident was consistent with the pattern seen in
other factories. Hsiao also described an escalating series
of worker demands, nearly all of which he claimed to have
resolved through negotiation, despite nearly two weeks of
work stoppages and strikes. When he thought all issues were
resolved and work would resume, new demands were made and
workers remained on strike. At that point, he obtained BEPZA
permission to shut down the factory (i.e., to impose a
lockout). Hsiao confirmed complaints had been filed against
some workers, but disputed the numbers reported in the media
and said the complaints were limited to those involved in the
assault on the supervisor.


10. (SBU) In response to a question about management attempts
to work with laborers either at Ring Shine or other factories
to better deal with labor demands, Hossain replied that the
BEPZA counselors had intervened in regards to earlier reports
of alleged abuse from this supervisor; however, Hossain
admitted that the counselors made only a verbal report and
there were no written guidelines for the counselors to
follow. Bauer interjected sthat the first role of the
counselors is as a teacher and guide, and not as a negotiator.


11. (SBU) When asked how much training workers received on
the new WRWC and their potential role, Hossain and others
admitted that BEPZA provided maybe one hour of training,
mostly on election procedures but claimed they were
adequately trained and educated in their roles. As for the
WRWC at Ring Shine, Hsiao said, "I'm not speaking to them."


12. (SBU) Comment: BEPZA and the factory owners clearly
believe that recent labor unrest is the direct result of
improper intervention and agitation by the Solidarity Center
in conjunction with the AFL-CIO. Solidarity Center, not
present at this meeting, would have painted a different
picture of labor activities in the EPZs under the new law.
It is not clear who has the stronger case. Either way,
industrial relations in Bangladesh are having growing pains
and the dispute at this one factory shows the pitfalls in the
transition to full worker rights to organize and bargain
collectively in the EPZs. End comment.
CHAMMAS