KABIR RECOVERED TK. 71,744.00 FROM HIS EMPLOYER THROUGH A BLAST-INITIATED MEDIATION (2010)

In October 2010, Kabir came to BLAST’s head office seeking legal assistance to recover the benefits owed to him following his resignation as a senior operator of a factory. He had not received his arrears of wages or benefits following his resignation in April 2010, due to a family crisis, following 13 years of service.

Kabir sought BLAST’s assistance to obtain his back wages, along with certain legal entitlements guaranteed by the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006. BLAST sent letters to the factory authorities seeking mediation of the dispute. The factory authorities replied positively, and agreed to settle the dispute through mediation. They then asked BLAST to arrange for Kabir to contact the factory, and when Kabir did so, he received Tk. 71,744.00. In November 2010, Kabir returned to BLAST’s head office to report that he had received the full amount, and was very satisfied with the outcome.

BLAST MEDIATION LEADS TO JELY’S REINSTATEMENT (2010)

In June 2010, Jely, a long-time factory worker, became very ill while at work and was allowed to leave. She was subsequently diagnosed with jaundice, and communicated this diagnosis to her superiors immediately. She was advised to return to work once she was in better health. Three weeks later, after her recovery, Jely attempted to return to work, but her supervisor requested that she return only on July 1^st. However, when she returned on that date, Jely was not allowed to enter the factory, and the production manager informed her that she had lost her job. Jely pleaded with the factory’s higher management, but they refused to reinstate her.

Jely sought legal help from BLAST’s head office. When BLAST sent a letter to the factory authorities proposing mediation, the factory authorities replied promptly and agreed to settle the dispute. The factory’s human resources officer subsequently requested that BLAST advise Jely that she could return to her job. On September 30^th 2010, Jely visited BLAST’s head office to report that she had been reinstated.

BABUL RECOVERS ARREARS OF WAGES AND BENEFITS WITH BLAST’S LEGAL ASSISTANCE (2010) 

Babul had been working in a garment factory in Dhaka since 2001. One night in early 2010, Babul learned that his aunt had passed away, and he had to return to his family home in the village of Shariatpur, several hours travel from Dhaka. He tried repeatedly to contact the factory manager to request leave, but was unable to reach him. He was eventually able to inform the factory in-charge of the news over the telephone. When Babul returned to work, the factory manager and the quality control manager refused to let him enter, and told him not to return. When Babul asked for his arrears of wages and other legal benefits, the managers refused to pay him his dues. After repeated failed attempts to secure these payments, Babul visited BLAST’s head office to seek legal advice.

Upon receiving the complaint, BLAST sent two successive letters to the managing director and factory manager, proposing mediation of the dispute. They failed to respond on both occasions.

With BLAST’s assistance, about three months later, Babul filed a Bangladesh Labour Act (Criminal) Case against the managing director of the factory. During the trial period, the dispute was settled through out-of-court mediation, on BLAST’s initiative. As a result, Babul received a sum of Tk. 30,000 as his arrears of wages, including all legal benefits. In December 2010, Babul, satisfied with the settlement, applied to the Court to withdraw the case.