Read on Twitter
On this day, 7 years ago, the tragic Rana Plaza disaster took place. Only a few months following the Tazreen Fire, at 8:00AM on April 24th, 2013, over 3,600 workers initially refused to enter the #RanaPlaza Building in Dhaka, Bangladesh due to visible cracks in the foundation
Workers were forced into the building regardless of the concerns they raised with the unstable infrastructure. 45 minutes following these confrontations, the building collapsed. Over 1,129 people were confirmed dead, while 200 bodies remain missing.
Who is responsible? Who do we direct our anger to?
BD factories operate through a subcontracting system. This system creates a disconnect between workers and the companies. The raw materials are typically sent to factories that are generally owned by local, Bangladeshi elites.
BD factories operate through a subcontracting system. This system creates a disconnect between workers and the companies. The raw materials are typically sent to factories that are generally owned by local, Bangladeshi elites.
This has been the preferred choice of production because it lifts accountability and responsibility and in turn, creates a grey area. It intentionally creates a loophole, who is responsible? Factory owners? Corporations? The Bangladeshi government? Western governments?
It should come as no surprise that the RMG industry is feminized labour. The RMG industry is made up of 85% women workers.
Most of these women have little to no formal education, and come from poor (often rural) backgrounds.
Most of these women have little to no formal education, and come from poor (often rural) backgrounds.
Their working conditions often include physical, verbal, and sexual abuse, a lack of formal contracts, delayed salaries, no paid time off or maternity leave, lack of clean drinking water and plumbing, long hours on wages as little as US $96 a MONTH (working almost 16 hr/day)
So what has been done since? We were introduced to an Alliance, the Accord... agreements between companies, labour unions and governments. Well..
In January 2019, thousands of workers went on strike, they were tear gassed and water cannoned: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/14/bangladesh-strikes-thousands-of-garment-workers-clash-with-police-over-poor-pay
In January 2019, thousands of workers went on strike, they were tear gassed and water cannoned: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/14/bangladesh-strikes-thousands-of-garment-workers-clash-with-police-over-poor-pay
What was the consequence of these workers striking for their rights? Almost 5,000 were FIRED. The government did whatever they could to intimidate workers and crush any attempt of workers to organize. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/5000-garment-workers-sacked-bangladesh-strikes-190129121804896.html
We always talk about how we can improve working conditions and wages for workers - which we should. But the reality is, the global chain of production is inherently exploitative under capitalism. The subcontracting system is intentionally dangerous. We have to think bigger.
There are organizations currently working on these issues like:
https://cleanclothes.org/
https://labourbehindthelabel.org/
And local BD labour unions
Things are getting worse under the COVID situation, RMG workers are out of work and are receiving no support. They are THE most vulnerable
https://cleanclothes.org/
https://labourbehindthelabel.org/
And local BD labour unions
Things are getting worse under the COVID situation, RMG workers are out of work and are receiving no support. They are THE most vulnerable
I visited the land on which Rana Plaza once stood while I was in Dhaka. I didn't take a photo myself. But this is what it looks like. Today I remember those we've lost, and am aware we will lose many more unless we fight back against this system. Power to the People.
