"Stitched out of jobs: How protests sowed the seeds of a blacklist"

Soma Akter, a former worker at a garment factory in Uttara, Dhaka, faced a dire situation when the factory abruptly shut down without paying the workers their dues.

In response, the workers, including Soma, protested to demand their rightful compensation. 

The factory management eventually agreed to the demands, promising that once the factory reopened, the former workers would be given priority for reemployment. 

However, when the factory did reopen, Soma and her fellow workers were not rehired. 

Soma sought employment at other factories but encountered the same issue—despite initially being considered for jobs, she was ultimately rejected.

Soma explained that after providing her fingerprint at a new factory, the management informed her that they could not hire her because she had been involved in protests at her previous workplace. 

Soma is not alone. Many workers have reported being "blacklisted" for participating in protests, preventing them from securing new jobs in the garment sector ...

In 2021, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) announced the creation of a biometric identity and workers' information system for garment workers. 

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... BILS and other labor rights organizations argue that the current use of the database violates human rights.

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When these workers apply for jobs at other BGMEA-affiliated factories, the new employers can access the information, leading to the worker being denied employment.

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Abdullah Hil Rakib, senior vice president of BGMEA, denied that any such law or policy exists in their sector or in the labor law. 

He acknowledged that there was an old decision to share information about workers involved in criminal offenses like sexual harassment, conspiracy, or theft, but this was never strictly enforced, especially with the current labor shortage. 

He emphasized that there is no compulsion to follow such practices, as there is no legal provision for them, and that HR departments are now hiring workers without checking these records.

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