'Amader Kotha' helpline

Most garment workers complain about wages


Monira Munni | Published: July 27, 2018 10:46:16 | Updated: July 29, 2018 10:29:06


Reuters file photo used only for representational purpose

The most common complaint the garment workers lodge through a helpline service is about non-payment of wages and compensation, according to the Alliance.

The workers in the Alliance-listed garment factories have so far made some 3,813 complaints about pay and damages.

A total of 19,582 issues were raised through 'Amader Kotha' helpline from December 2014 to June 2018.

The findings of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety showed that termination and fire incidents outside of factories were also the common issue.

The helpline has received 2,793 complaints about compensation benefits and 2,021 over termination issue, according to the data.

It received a total of 1,742 complaints related to verbal abuse and 1,942 over fire incidents outside of factories.

Out of the 912 Alliance-listed factories, the helpline received calls from some 756 units and 2,963 calls from non-Alliance units, it said.

The Alliance launched the dedicated toll-free number 08006666666 to help workers raise multiple issues like workplace abuses, pay and conditions.

They can report and resolve substantive issues in their factories like emergencies and urgent safety concerns and other lawful rights, officials said.

The helpline received more than 2,33,000 inbound calls from workers since its inception.

Of the issues, more than 80 per cent have been resolved, they added.

"Amader Kotha has empowered hundreds of thousands of garment workers to report various issues anonymously and without fear of retribution," Alliance executive director Jim Moriarty said.

"We're incredibly proud to leave the helpline as a legacy, and that this important resource will continue and grow under the leadership of the helpline project partners," he hoped.

'Phulki' a non-government organisation in Bangladesh, is running the service under a project of The Cahn Group, LLC.

Cahn Group is a mobile platform that establishes a two-way communication channel between organisations and their workers.

Suraiya Haque, founder and executive director of Phulki, said they have resolved 80 per cent of the complaints through negotiations with the management.

The remaining 20 per cent still stays unsolved as the complainants were not seeking aid.

Even the Alliance has not succeeded in pursuing the issues further, Ms Haque told the FE.

munni_fe@yahoo.com

 

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