The Bangladesh government and German retailer Aldi has been asked by global rights group, ‘Clean Clothes Campaign’, to immediately take steps to clear the dues of Swan Garments workers. Swan management in April had closed its two units, employing about 1,300 workers, following the sudden death of its Chinese owner. This caused payment issues among workers, as they have not been paid since that time, making them to hold protests in front of the National Press Club.
According to reports, the firm, engaged in manufacturing in Bangladesh for the last three decades, was producing for Aldi, Motivi and Piazza Italia. It began facing crisis last year, after many of its long term buyers stopped sourcing from it, as result factories became dependent on short term or subcontracting business deals. Going by the company’s website, it had Lidi, Next, Bestseller, Walmart and Dunnes as long term buyers.
The workers, who are demanding their unpaid salaries and resumption of factories’ operations, are on protest since April 19, and resorting to hunger strikes and permanent sit-down to make their demands accepted. Many protesters have been subjected to injuries following police’s attempts to disperse them.
