“COVID-19: Bangladesh garment workers stand up for rights”, 01 April 2020

The COVID-19 crisis is especially devastating for the 50 million workers who make clothes, shoes and textiles in factories around the world. With declining sales, corporate retailers are cancelling orders and factories are laying off workers, most without pay…

But through their unions, tens of thousands of garment workers in Bangladesh are successfully standing up to employers to ensure they are paid during plant closures and have proper protective equipment if they must report to work.

In Gazipur, factory-level unions and worker union leaders representing 10,000 garment workers at Hop Lun Ltd. factories negotiated key pay and safety measures. Workers will receive their full month’s salary for March … during the government lockdown…

At Natural Denims Ltd., where some 8,200 workers signed a collective bargaining agreement in January, [Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation] worked with factory management to ensure workers receive their full pay during the factory closure ...