Editorial: We Should Be Ashamed
THE sad saga of hundreds of Bangladeshi workers at the Ramatex plant, who paid exorbitant amounts of money to get work in this country, were ill-paid and treated as if they had no rights at all, and who were then deported to face a life of penury and stigma back home, cannot be repeated.
Somewhere, somehow, heads should roll for this disgraceful affair.
While Ramatex itself should shoulder the blame for employing
these Bangladeshis in the first place, Government has to account
for its share in this sad saga.
With the men now all gone home, one hopes that those involved do
not merely shrug off what transpired in recent weeks as a bad
experience for the country.
Ramatex somehow always escapes being held accountable, whether
it is labour related or crucial environment issues.
Paying for the return tickets home of the Bangladeshis and
giving them a little bit of money to make their short stay not seem
totally in vain - was Ramatex's quick solution to the disgrace -
with a Government deportation order as backing.
Generally evasive of the media, this time around the factory was
quick to acknowledge fault for not having ensured better living
conditions for Asian workers.
But it is unlikely they will get a rap over the knuckles for
their "carelessness" in overlooking the men's living conditions nor
for apparently being too "trusting" of the recruiting agent.
After all, Ramatex receives heavy backing in many respects from
Government to provide much-needed employment for Namibians.
And it has the money to get rid of its "problems".
It is imperative to attract investors and provide jobs, but it
needs to be done in an ethical way.
Let's also hope that the 'outsiders' who benefited from those
who have had to sacrifice so much for nothing also do not escape
punishment as the pictures of the horrific way the Bangladeshis
were made to live gradually fade.
Those involved in accommodating the Bangladeshis claimed that it
even overstepped the law by making illegal renovations to make the
men as comfortable as possible.
But it was clearly worth the money they were being paid if they
felt free to ignore municipal regulations.
However, given past trends, we hold our little hope that there
will be much soul-searching, let alone accounting on the part of
Government of what went wrong.
It's unlikely to happen since the media generally get scant
praise, but The Namibian in particular should be credited with
being at the forefront of exposing the trafficking and inhumane
treatment of workers, which has led to the close scrutiny that the
whole matter now somewhat belatedly enjoys.
While this has not altered the sad fate of the deported
Bangladeshi workers, it has hopefully raised consciousness about
this human abuse and may ensure that it does not happen again.
To give a brief synopsis of how the saga unfolded: August 5 -
The Namibian reports on a Ramatex attempt to have its first group
of 66 Bangladeshi workers, who had been in the country for a year,
deported.
The High Court allows the men to stay to fight their
dismissal.
Their appalling living conditions right across the road from the
factory in Otjomuise is exposed.
The first group of 372 workers have started arriving in
Namibia.
August 6 - The Namibian writes an editorial on Ramatex,
reminding the up-to-then silent NUNW affiliated trade unions of the
slogan of 'an injury to one is an injury to all' and calls for
solidarity with the ill-treated workers.
August 10 - The Namibian reports on planned legal action by the
disgruntled 66.
August 11 - The NUNW finally issues a statement in response to
the treatment of the sacked 66 workers following the editorial in
The Namibian.
August 25 - The Namibian reveals the dreadful living conditions
of new Bangladeshi arrivals.
Sept 10 - The newspaper reports on a riot at the factory by
workers in protest against their living conditions.
Sept 10 - Unions again respond to ill-treatment of the
Bangladeshis - a month after their first statement.
Sept 13 - 16 - The Namibian carries several reports of the
deportation of the Bangladeshis and more about the key players
involved in bringing the men to Namibia is revealed.
The newspaper also reports on the devastating impact on the
lives of the Bangladeshi workers and their families.
While Ramatex itself should shoulder the blame for employing these
Bangladeshis in the first place, Government has to account for its
share in this sad saga.With the men now all gone home, one hopes
that those involved do not merely shrug off what transpired in
recent weeks as a bad experience for the country.Ramatex somehow
always escapes being held accountable, whether it is labour related
or crucial environment issues.Paying for the return tickets home of
the Bangladeshis and giving them a little bit of money to make
their short stay not seem totally in vain - was Ramatex's quick
solution to the disgrace - with a Government deportation order as
backing.Generally evasive of the media, this time around the
factory was quick to acknowledge fault for not having ensured
better living conditions for Asian workers.But it is unlikely they
will get a rap over the knuckles for their "carelessness" in
overlooking the men's living conditions nor for apparently being
too "trusting" of the recruiting agent.After all, Ramatex receives
heavy backing in many respects from Government to provide
much-needed employment for Namibians.And it has the money to get
rid of its "problems".It is imperative to attract investors and
provide jobs, but it needs to be done in an ethical way.Let's also
hope that the 'outsiders' who benefited from those who have had to
sacrifice so much for nothing also do not escape punishment as the
pictures of the horrific way the Bangladeshis were made to live
gradually fade.Those involved in accommodating the Bangladeshis
claimed that it even overstepped the law by making illegal
renovations to make the men as comfortable as possible.But it was
clearly worth the money they were being paid if they felt free to
ignore municipal regulations.However, given past trends, we hold
our little hope that there will be much soul-searching, let alone
accounting on the part of Government of what went wrong.It's
unlikely to happen since the media generally get scant praise, but
The Namibian in particular should be credited with being at the
forefront of exposing the trafficking and inhumane treatment of
workers, which has led to the close scrutiny that the whole matter
now somewhat belatedly enjoys.While this has not altered the sad
fate of the deported Bangladeshi workers, it has hopefully raised
consciousness about this human abuse and may ensure that it does
not happen again.To give a brief synopsis of how the saga unfolded:
August 5 - The Namibian reports on a Ramatex attempt to have its
first group of 66 Bangladeshi workers, who had been in the country
for a year, deported.The High Court allows the men to stay to fight
their dismissal.Their appalling living conditions right across the
road from the factory in Otjomuise is exposed.The first group of
372 workers have started arriving in Namibia.August 6 - The
Namibian writes an editorial on Ramatex, reminding the up-to-then
silent NUNW affiliated trade unions of the slogan of 'an injury to
one is an injury to all' and calls for solidarity with the
ill-treated workers.August 10 - The Namibian reports on planned
legal action by the disgruntled 66.August 11 - The NUNW finally
issues a statement in response to the treatment of the sacked 66
workers following the editorial in The Namibian.August 25 - The
Namibian reveals the dreadful living conditions of new Bangladeshi
arrivals.Sept 10 - The newspaper reports on a riot at the factory
by workers in protest against their living conditions.Sept 10 -
Unions again respond to ill-treatment of the Bangladeshis - a month
after their first statement.Sept 13 - 16 - The Namibian carries
several reports of the deportation of the Bangladeshis and more
about the key players involved in bringing the men to Namibia is
revealed.The newspaper also reports on the devastating impact on
the lives of the Bangladeshi workers and their families.