US embassy cable - 05DHAKA1765

UNCLAS DHAKA 001765 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USTR FOR A/USTR WILLS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, ETRD, PGOV, BG 
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH EPZ LABOR ELECTIONS LURCH FORWARD 
 
REF: DHAKA 1731 
 
1. (SBU) Since Parliament's passage in 2004 of legislation to 
extend international labor standards to Bangladesh's Export 
Processing Zones (EPZ), local AFL-CIO Solidary Center (SC) 
representative Rob Wayss has closely monitored 
implementation, including the elections starting in December 
to the interim Worker Representation and Welfare Committees 
(WRWC).  Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) 
Chairman Mohammed Zakir Hussain told us on April 5 that he 
hoped to hold elections in all 210 registered EPZ companies 
by the end of May; thus far, 99 factories have held elections. 
 
2. (SBU) Wayss recently told us that, based on its 
discussions with workers inside and outside the factories, SC 
sees five areas of concern: 
 
A) Elections are occurring at a slow pace; 
 
B) Workers are not receiving sufficient information from 
BEPZA or the employers on the law, election procedures, or on 
the work of the WRWC; 
 
C) There is a pattern of employer interference in the 
elections.  For example, employers in several cases provided 
copies of the new law or WRWC election procedures only to 
favored employees, and in one case an employer openly 
endorsed specific WRWC candidates through the factory PA 
system; 
 
D) Retaliation against employees who express interest in 
running for the WRWC.  Workers at a factory in Chittagong 
visited by Wayss had had their status changed from permanent 
to temporary employees, or had been demoted from quality 
control inspectors to cleaners; and 
 
E) WRWC at companies where elections have been held have yet 
to follow the law and hold any negotiations between the WRWC 
and the company. 
 
3. (SBU) Hussain told us that BEPZA has disseminated copies 
of the EPZ Workers Association and Industrial Relations Act 
2004 to companies to distribute to workers and has conducted 
awareness training for WRWC members and HR officials of 50 
companies.  Additionally, he said, BEPZA is preparing a 
handbook for members of WRWC and general workers, and has no 
record of employer interference in the elections process. 
BEPZA also denies any knowledge of companies firing, 
suspending, or demoting workers in relation to WRWC elections. 
 
4. (SBU) Comment: We will continue to monitor and observe 
where possible WRWC elections in the EPZ factories.  During a 
scheduled meeting with BEPZA Chairman Hussain next week, we 
intend to press for full implementation of the new labor law. 
 The April 11 garment factory collapse in the Savar EPZ 
(reftel) may heighten domestic and international scrutiny of 
labor conditions in Bangladesh's EPZ. 
THOMAS