The strike, started on the 12th December, at the Windy Apparels factory - most recentlyin the news following the death of one its employees in October. The factory supplies a number of well know high street brands including H&M, Inditex (known for the brand Zara), Esprit, Tesco, Arcadia, S Oliver, and Debenhams...

[None] of the major trade union federations have endorsed the strike... [Trade] union leaders have instead urged workers to return to work, while recognizing that their concerns need to be dealt with by the government and employers. Despite this it appears the government is taking the opportunity to carry out a crackdown on trade unions, by threatening and arresting their leaders. On the 21st December seven local labor leaders were detained following a meeting convened by the Industrial police... [details additional arrests of other labour leaders]...

The CCC views the latest surge of harassment against trade unionists and workers as an attack against legitimate labour organising and as an attempt to stop workers from raising their concerns about their poverty wages and horrendous conditions. We call on the Bangladesh government to halt this repression, ensure that those arrest are either released or are provided with proper due process and to drop the indiscriminate charges against hundreds of workers. Brands sourcing from Bangladesh should support this position strongly to the Bangladeshi government...