It is over – for now.

Following many rallies and press conferences by organized by textile workers of Dragon Sweater and many actions in solidarity at New Yorker, Lidl and Walmart stores around the world, an agreement was reached on October 12th, 2020. It was signed by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), representatives of the government, as well as factory owners and workers’ representatives.

The document consists of the following six points:

1. The workers will receive every year a basic wage for 15 days as compensation for unpaid wages.
2. All vacation wages and holiday bonuses after 2018 will be paid.
3. The wages owed to administrative staff will be given based on the owners own accounting.
4. These above wages will be delivered in phases according to the following timetable 7 nov 20 / 22 nov 20 / 7 dec 20 / 22 dec 20.
5. The above is not applicable for newly joined workers.
6. As according to the above agreements, the workers and owners will maintain an amiable relationship and refrain from conflict.

Why this is considered a partial victory only? Because in the end the factory owners get away with paying only around half of the benefits owed to the workers at large.

In mutual agreement with the Garment Workers’ Trade Union Center (GWTUC) labor union activities related to the conflict will be halted for now.
In case the factory management does not stick to the agreement and doesn’t pay the workers on the dates agreed on, pressure on the international level can be reactivated any time.

We call on all unions standing in solidarity with the textile workers at the Dragon Group factories to stay alert and keep following the developments.

#UnitedAgainstTheDragon