No justice for the poor: A reflection on the deportation of Bangladeshi workers at Ramatex
By: Herbert JauchTHE Ramatex textile company has been a controversial venture since it started operating in Namibia.
Initially praised as a major job creator, its costs soon became
apparent.
First Namibia provided a host of special incentives including
investments of over N$100 million in public funds to create
infrastructure for the company.
Then followed concerns regarding the threat of water pollution
through the company's toxic waste.
Thereafter we witnessed two strikes over extremely poor working
conditions and the frequent violation of Namibian laws and
policies.
And now, we see the destruction of the young lives of
Bangladeshi workers.
In October last year, the Labour Resource and Research Institute
(LaRRI) published a comprehensive report on the experiences of
Namibian workers at the Ramatex factory.
We alluded to the dangers of granting that company special
status and quietly "exempting" it from Namibian laws and
regulations.
A year later, the situation has gone from bad to worse.
IMPORTING WORKERS
Following newspaper reports in August 2004 about the import of
Ramatex workers from Bangladesh, we carried out our own
investigations.
We spoke to dozens of the Bangladeshis, documented their stories
and discovered a network of shady operators, guilty of contributing
to gross human rights violations.
What we found presented the ugly face of global capitalism as it
exists today.
Its victims are always the poor - in this case young Bangladeshi
workers.
They were lured into Namibia by ruthless agents who had promised
them the chance to earn better salaries to support their
families.
In return, each worker had to pay the agents US$3 500 (about
N$23 000) which they could raise only by selling all their
belongings, including houses, land and livestock.
Many still had to borrow additional money from family members,
friends and banks.
After only a few weeks in Namibia, these workers were now sent
home, condemned to even greater misery than before their
ordeal.
They lost everything and will not be able to recover their
losses.
WHO IS TO BE BLAMED?
Meanwhile those responsible for the workers' misery and the
trade in human beings seem to get off lightly - once again.
With reference to the horrific conditions endured by 400
Bangladeshi workers at a house known as "Hotel Ramatex" in Windhoek
West, the company in a recent statement claimed that "it is not
Ramatex policy to provide such living conditions for any of its
employees".
However, these conditions had already been prominently reported
in a local newspaper in mid-August but Ramatex did nothing to
alleviate the suffering of the Bangladeshi workers.
The company only responded when public pressure increased
through several reports in the media and a strongly worded
statement by the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW).
Ramatex cannot claim innocence and must take full responsibility
for the misery endured by its workers.
The company has directly benefited from the human trafficking
carried out on its behalf by Eastern Overseas, Bay Eastern Agency
and Saujana Blossom Import and Export Namibia.
These agencies are responsible for the extortion of large
amounts of money from Bangladeshi workers in exchange for work
contracts.
Ramatex directly benefited from its agents' operation.
The first group of 66 Bangladeshi workers who had arrived a year
ago, still earned monthly wages of US$200 - 300 (N$1300 -
1950).
They were dismissed last month under the pretext of not being
productive enough.
At the same time, a new group of about 400 Bangladeshi workers
arrived in the country, earning monthly salaries of US$ 120 (N$
780) of which they received only US$75 (N$487) as the rest was
deducted for food.
Ramatex thus benefited from even lower wages while its agents
made millions of US$ through extorted payments from Bangladeshi
workers.
These workers now had to return home empty-handed.
They paid the price for a game whose rules are set by global
corporations.
Protected by the blind faith of host countries that foreign
investment will solve their development problems, these
corporations drive down labour and environmental standards in what
has been described as a "race to the bottom".
There are many international examples to prove this point.
When will Ramatex and its agents be made to account for the
gross human rights violations and the misery imposed on their
workers?
HOSTING ABUSES
It is a tragic irony that Namibia plays host to such abuses.
For decades, Namibians fought against a colonial contract labour
system that condemned Namibian workers to a miserable life in the
dreaded "single sex hostels".
Some of our leading politicians started their political careers
from there.
Throughout the liberation struggle, the migrant labour system
was seen as a reflection of the injustices of colonialism and
apartheid.
Just over a decade after independence, we now see a return of
the migrant labour system in a new globalised, and perhaps even
more vicious form.
Like under colonial rule, workers who revolt against their
inhuman conditions are simply deported to their "homelands".
Previously back to "Ovamboland", now back to Bangladesh, China
or the Philippines.
The principle of exploitation and abuse of workers' rights for
company profits has remained the same.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
The deportation of the Bangladeshis does not resolve the
problems experienced by Ramatex workers.
Treating them as if they were criminals and sending them back
empty-handed is merely an attempt to avoid dealing with
uncomfortable questions such as:
* Why are no criminal charges brought against Ramatex and its
labour agents for the violation of human rights and municipal
regulations?
* Why does Ramatex receive work permits for thousands of its Asian
workers, many of whom seem to carry out jobs that could be
performed by unemployed and trainable Namibians?
* Who shares in the millions of US$ extorted from desperate Asian
workers?
* What is the nature of the links between Ramatex, its labour
agencies and government officials in certain ministries and
embassies?
* Why does the Namibian government continue to allow Ramatex to
violate Namibian laws and regulations with impunity?
* What was done to ensure that Ramatex' toxic waste does not
contaminate Windhoek's water resources?
ANOTHER BATTLE AHEAD
Although most Bangladeshi workers have already been deported,
there is still a group of 66 workers who remained in Namibia to
fight Ramatex in court.
Their case will highlight some of Ramatex' abuses and presents
perhaps the workers' last chance to see some justice done.
However, these Bangladeshi workers have run out of money to pay
for food, accommodation and legal costs.
As Namibians committed to social justice we have to show
practical solidarity and render whichever support we can, be it
food or money.
Otherwise, Ramatex will simply use delaying tactics and
literally starve the workers out of their last chance to hold the
company accountable.
At the very least, the Bangladeshis have to be refunded for the
money paid to the agents, receive some compensation for the
hardships endured and a free ticket home.
So far, there has been no justice for the poor.
* The author works with the Labour Resource and Research
Institute (LaRRI) in Katutura, Windhoek.
Those interested in supporting the Bangladeshi workers during
their trial can contact him at 212044 during office hours.
First Namibia provided a host of special incentives including
investments of over N$100 million in public funds to create
infrastructure for the company.Then followed concerns regarding the
threat of water pollution through the company's toxic
waste.Thereafter we witnessed two strikes over extremely poor
working conditions and the frequent violation of Namibian laws and
policies.And now, we see the destruction of the young lives of
Bangladeshi workers.In October last year, the Labour Resource and
Research Institute (LaRRI) published a comprehensive report on the
experiences of Namibian workers at the Ramatex factory.We alluded
to the dangers of granting that company special status and quietly
"exempting" it from Namibian laws and regulations.A year later, the
situation has gone from bad to worse.IMPORTING WORKERSFollowing
newspaper reports in August 2004 about the import of Ramatex
workers from Bangladesh, we carried out our own investigations.We
spoke to dozens of the Bangladeshis, documented their stories and
discovered a network of shady operators, guilty of contributing to
gross human rights violations.What we found presented the ugly face
of global capitalism as it exists today.Its victims are always the
poor - in this case young Bangladeshi workers.They were lured into
Namibia by ruthless agents who had promised them the chance to earn
better salaries to support their families.In return, each worker
had to pay the agents US$3 500 (about N$23 000) which they could
raise only by selling all their belongings, including houses, land
and livestock.Many still had to borrow additional money from family
members, friends and banks.After only a few weeks in Namibia, these
workers were now sent home, condemned to even greater misery than
before their ordeal.They lost everything and will not be able to
recover their losses.WHO IS TO BE BLAMED?Meanwhile those
responsible for the workers' misery and the trade in human beings
seem to get off lightly - once again.With reference to the horrific
conditions endured by 400 Bangladeshi workers at a house known as
"Hotel Ramatex" in Windhoek West, the company in a recent statement
claimed that "it is not Ramatex policy to provide such living
conditions for any of its employees".However, these conditions had
already been prominently reported in a local newspaper in
mid-August but Ramatex did nothing to alleviate the suffering of
the Bangladeshi workers.The company only responded when public
pressure increased through several reports in the media and a
strongly worded statement by the National Union of Namibian Workers
(NUNW).Ramatex cannot claim innocence and must take full
responsibility for the misery endured by its workers.The company
has directly benefited from the human trafficking carried out on
its behalf by Eastern Overseas, Bay Eastern Agency and Saujana
Blossom Import and Export Namibia.These agencies are responsible
for the extortion of large amounts of money from Bangladeshi
workers in exchange for work contracts.Ramatex directly benefited
from its agents' operation.The first group of 66 Bangladeshi
workers who had arrived a year ago, still earned monthly wages of
US$200 - 300 (N$1300 - 1950).They were dismissed last month under
the pretext of not being productive enough.At the same time, a new
group of about 400 Bangladeshi workers arrived in the country,
earning monthly salaries of US$ 120 (N$ 780) of which they received
only US$75 (N$487) as the rest was deducted for food.Ramatex thus
benefited from even lower wages while its agents made millions of
US$ through extorted payments from Bangladeshi workers.These
workers now had to return home empty-handed.They paid the price for
a game whose rules are set by global corporations.Protected by the
blind faith of host countries that foreign investment will solve
their development problems, these corporations drive down labour
and environmental standards in what has been described as a "race
to the bottom".There are many international examples to prove this
point.When will Ramatex and its agents be made to account for the
gross human rights violations and the misery imposed on their
workers?HOSTING ABUSESIt is a tragic irony that Namibia plays host
to such abuses.For decades, Namibians fought against a colonial
contract labour system that condemned Namibian workers to a
miserable life in the dreaded "single sex hostels".Some of our
leading politicians started their political careers from
there.Throughout the liberation struggle, the migrant labour system
was seen as a reflection of the injustices of colonialism and
apartheid.Just over a decade after independence, we now see a
return of the migrant labour system in a new globalised, and
perhaps even more vicious form.Like under colonial rule, workers
who revolt against their inhuman conditions are simply deported to
their "homelands".Previously back to "Ovamboland", now back to
Bangladesh, China or the Philippines.The principle of exploitation
and abuse of workers' rights for company profits has remained the
same.UNANSWERED QUESTIONSThe deportation of the Bangladeshis does
not resolve the problems experienced by Ramatex workers.Treating
them as if they were criminals and sending them back empty-handed
is merely an attempt to avoid dealing with uncomfortable questions
such as:* Why are no criminal charges brought against Ramatex and
its labour agents for the violation of human rights and municipal
regulations?
* Why does Ramatex receive work permits for thousands of its Asian
workers, many of whom seem to carry out jobs that could be
performed by unemployed and trainable Namibians?
* Who shares in the millions of US$ extorted from desperate Asian
workers?
* What is the nature of the links between Ramatex, its labour
agencies and government officials in certain ministries and
embassies?
* Why does the Namibian government continue to allow Ramatex to
violate Namibian laws and regulations with impunity?
* What was done to ensure that Ramatex' toxic waste does not
contaminate Windhoek's water resources?ANOTHER BATTLE AHEADAlthough
most Bangladeshi workers have already been deported, there is still
a group of 66 workers who remained in Namibia to fight Ramatex in
court.Their case will highlight some of Ramatex' abuses and
presents perhaps the workers' last chance to see some justice
done.However, these Bangladeshi workers have run out of money to
pay for food, accommodation and legal costs.As Namibians committed
to social justice we have to show practical solidarity and render
whichever support we can, be it food or money.Otherwise, Ramatex
will simply use delaying tactics and literally starve the workers
out of their last chance to hold the company accountable.At the
very least, the Bangladeshis have to be refunded for the money paid
to the agents, receive some compensation for the hardships endured
and a free ticket home.So far, there has been no justice for the
poor. * The author works with the Labour Resource and Research
Institute (LaRRI) in Katutura, Windhoek.Those interested in
supporting the Bangladeshi workers during their trial can contact
him at 212044 during office hours.