The Need to Strengthen Bangladesh Garment Workers’ Rights
by Herlens and Diba Yeasmin
Many people like to wear different kind of clothing styles to look nice. But do people know how much hard work the poor women in the poor countries put their efforts to make these clothes? Is there any benefit for those poor women who are working in garment factories in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. At this moment, let focus on the country of Bangladesh, which is located in Asia with 147,570 sq. km. Although Bangladesh is a small country, it is rich in industry activities such as ready made, garments, pharmaceuticals, cements, garment accessories, chemicals, fertilizers, newsprint, leather and leather goods, paper, sugar, jute, and ship building. But the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has people work in those different factories without rights. In “Bangladesh Garment workers’ rights Strengthened,” an article written by VOA, it says that the country has four million garment workers, and most of them are females. In fact, about 3.6 million of those workers are women. This article brings to mind the to the 23rd article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which says that “everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.” Thus, Bangladeshi people, like any other country, should have the right to work and choice instead of being forced to work where they won’t get salary. Also, Bangladeshi people should deserve respect and security for those rights because they are poor, hard workers.
According to BangladeshGarmentinduty.com,Bangladesh is a poor country and most of people work hard in garment 24/7 to feed their family with their per capita annual only $850 or $60 per month. This amount of money is so little, but the government doesn’t really help. Also, the government knew about the poor conditions of many factory buildings, but let the owners deal with the problem--or not deal with it. In April 2013, a terrible incident occurred in Rana Plana garment where more than 1,100 workers died after a building collapse. This incident gained worldwide attention, and the international attention forced the Bangladesh government to review its work laws. Recently Mr. Qader, the Bangladeshi ambassador, said that “legislation will let the workers from labor union and receive other benefits, such as financial aid after they retire. Moreover, he said that there are at least 5,000 factories. [but] the government doesn’t know where all the factories are.” Kimberly Elliott, a senior of center Global Departments, supports the type of legislation that Mr. Qader mentions as it may help to prevent another building collapse. She says that ”the measure takes steps to try to improve building safety requirements.” We agree with her because the Bangladeshi government didn’t think about safety in the past; for example, many Bangladesh industrial buildings do not have safety exit. After this garment building collapse a number of countries have cancelled business, and then Europeans agreed to help out on safety responsibility. However, North American companies have separate agreements that they are not going to take responsibility for the factory safety.
One significant idea is that how the Bangladeshi government claims it doesn't know that factory buildings have problem with safety. How is it possible that there are 5,000 factories with terrible safety conditions, and the government doesn’t know a single thing about it? It’s really strange to believe whatever the government is saying. After the Rana Plaza incident, the government should have find out about the conditions of those 5,000 factories, and rebuild them if necessary. In our own opinion, it is heartbreaking because Rana Plaza is only one incident in the news. There are many other incidents. For example, 40 miles away from Dhaka, in place called in Gazipur, there was a fire and at least 50 people were hurt in the blaze and more than 110 people died on the fire. However, the government didn't punish the owners even though the family members asked for help. In fact, families only received a little money (like a $100 dollar check per family0. They deserve more because even though they are poor, and they worked so hard in a dangerous situation. But Western intervention is necessary to push the Bangladesh government to correct the problem and help people have their human rights.
In conclusion, Bangladesh has 80 percent poor people, and many of the garment factory workers are women who need the government's help. The 23rd article in the UDHR has not been followed in Bangladesh, and this must change. With no safety in these garment factories in Bangladesh, the workers don’t get full benefits or safe places to work because of the conditions of the buildings.
by Herlens and Diba Yeasmin
Many people like to wear different kind of clothing styles to look nice. But do people know how much hard work the poor women in the poor countries put their efforts to make these clothes? Is there any benefit for those poor women who are working in garment factories in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. At this moment, let focus on the country of Bangladesh, which is located in Asia with 147,570 sq. km. Although Bangladesh is a small country, it is rich in industry activities such as ready made, garments, pharmaceuticals, cements, garment accessories, chemicals, fertilizers, newsprint, leather and leather goods, paper, sugar, jute, and ship building. But the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has people work in those different factories without rights. In “Bangladesh Garment workers’ rights Strengthened,” an article written by VOA, it says that the country has four million garment workers, and most of them are females. In fact, about 3.6 million of those workers are women. This article brings to mind the to the 23rd article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which says that “everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.” Thus, Bangladeshi people, like any other country, should have the right to work and choice instead of being forced to work where they won’t get salary. Also, Bangladeshi people should deserve respect and security for those rights because they are poor, hard workers.
According to BangladeshGarmentinduty.com,Bangladesh is a poor country and most of people work hard in garment 24/7 to feed their family with their per capita annual only $850 or $60 per month. This amount of money is so little, but the government doesn’t really help. Also, the government knew about the poor conditions of many factory buildings, but let the owners deal with the problem--or not deal with it. In April 2013, a terrible incident occurred in Rana Plana garment where more than 1,100 workers died after a building collapse. This incident gained worldwide attention, and the international attention forced the Bangladesh government to review its work laws. Recently Mr. Qader, the Bangladeshi ambassador, said that “legislation will let the workers from labor union and receive other benefits, such as financial aid after they retire. Moreover, he said that there are at least 5,000 factories. [but] the government doesn’t know where all the factories are.” Kimberly Elliott, a senior of center Global Departments, supports the type of legislation that Mr. Qader mentions as it may help to prevent another building collapse. She says that ”the measure takes steps to try to improve building safety requirements.” We agree with her because the Bangladeshi government didn’t think about safety in the past; for example, many Bangladesh industrial buildings do not have safety exit. After this garment building collapse a number of countries have cancelled business, and then Europeans agreed to help out on safety responsibility. However, North American companies have separate agreements that they are not going to take responsibility for the factory safety.
One significant idea is that how the Bangladeshi government claims it doesn't know that factory buildings have problem with safety. How is it possible that there are 5,000 factories with terrible safety conditions, and the government doesn’t know a single thing about it? It’s really strange to believe whatever the government is saying. After the Rana Plaza incident, the government should have find out about the conditions of those 5,000 factories, and rebuild them if necessary. In our own opinion, it is heartbreaking because Rana Plaza is only one incident in the news. There are many other incidents. For example, 40 miles away from Dhaka, in place called in Gazipur, there was a fire and at least 50 people were hurt in the blaze and more than 110 people died on the fire. However, the government didn't punish the owners even though the family members asked for help. In fact, families only received a little money (like a $100 dollar check per family0. They deserve more because even though they are poor, and they worked so hard in a dangerous situation. But Western intervention is necessary to push the Bangladesh government to correct the problem and help people have their human rights.
In conclusion, Bangladesh has 80 percent poor people, and many of the garment factory workers are women who need the government's help. The 23rd article in the UDHR has not been followed in Bangladesh, and this must change. With no safety in these garment factories in Bangladesh, the workers don’t get full benefits or safe places to work because of the conditions of the buildings.