Bangladeshis’ agent hits out at Government, Ramatex

THE Eastern Overseas Recruiting agency has accused Government and the Ramatex Textile Factory of unfairly treating 372 Bangladeshi workers who were deported from Namibia last week.

Blame for the dire situation the Bangladeshi men found themselves in has circled among their employer, Ramatex, Government, the recruiting agency and local entrepreneurs. Yesterday, Eastern Overseas Public Relations Officer Alif Hossain spoke out on the agency’s position for the first time.Hossain has kept a low profile while in Namibia, after his recruits physically attacked him when he arrived in Windhoek 10 days ago.He spoke to The Namibian before leaving for Malaysia.He claimed that Ramatex had misled and misguided his countrymen and had not been honest about the contract it entered into with the agency.”The Government is very unfair to us.They have no heart.It’s like a stone only,” charged Hossain.”The Bangladeshi workers are very poor men.They live from hand to mouth.Our workers are poor but honest.They are not harmful to the Government,” Hossain told The Namibian.’THEY WERE TRAINED’He said all the men sent to Namibia were semi-skilled contrary to the factory’s allegations that they were unskilled.Ramatex entered into an agreement with Eastern Overseas, a Bangladeshi government-approved recruiting agency, in May to recruit workers.According to a letter shown to The Namibian, and signed by Ramatex Executive Director Albert Lim Poh Boon, Ramatex requested 1 000 male workers from Bangladesh, stating that they be semi-skilled.The Ramatex management said it decided to put a stop to work permit applications for the men because they were unskilled.Hossain told The Namibian that his company had arranged a month of training for all the men it sent to Namibia – making them semi-skilled in the field of sewing.”It’s not a hard job (sewing).It’s not a pilot job.It’s a very easy job,” he commented.Hossain said several of the men had even worked overtime during their short stay in Namibia.This, he added, was proof that they were capable of doing the job.’MUSLIM FACTOR’Hossain claimed that the factory management had victimised the Bangladeshi workers because they were Muslim and allegedly incited them to revolt against the agency because they no longer wanted to employ them.Further, the factory had acted unfairly in not allowing the men to prove themselves during an agreed three months probation period.”It is very clear that we are not cheaters and liars,” he said.”The management misguided our workers.”In a letter dated May 5 2004, Ramatex stipulated that the contract period for the Bangladeshis would be for two years at a monthly salary of US$120 (N$780 at the current exchange rate).He showed The Namibian advertisements placed in Bangladeshi newspapers to recruit factory workers which state that they would receive a salary of US$120, while the factory would be responsible for their accommodation and transport.In terms of the contract, they were to work six-day weeks of 48 hours.They were promised an overtime rate of US$0,86 per hour and US$9,20 for working on Sundays or public holidays.Medical attention was to be provided free of charge, while accommodation and transport were to be arranged by the employer.In another letter, dated May 11, Eastern Overseas was authorised to ensure that the recruits signed all the necessary documents and contracts required by the laws of Bangladesh as well as to arrange for the passport and visa endorsements.The agency showed The Namibian receipts which indicate payments of MYR 35 486 (Malaysian ringgits – about N$62 586) made to Namibia’s Malaysian Embassy for visas for 399 people.’PLAYING GAMES’In a letter to Ramatex, dated April 30, the Ministry of Trade and Industry acknowledged the factory’s request to employ expatriates in accordance with its expansion intentions.The letter also noted that discussions on the matter had earlier taken place between Namibia’s Ambassador to Namibia Neville Gertze and Lim Poh Boon.The Ministry gave the company permission to employ expatriate workers for no longer than two years.The Namibia Investment Centre said it would be prepared to recruit local staff required for the expansion.Hossain charged that the Ramatex management “was playing games” with people’s lives.He was particularly upset that Government had not informed the Bangladeshi High Commission in Pretoria about their deportation decision and had not given them the opportunity to discuss the issue.The last of the Bangladeshi workers left the country at midday on Wednesday.The High Commissioner only managed to secure a meeting with Government officials at 16h00 that day.Hossain further alleged that the factory management had defied an order by Lim Poh Boon – that his company’s local management hold off on sending the men back immediately.Their temporary visas were valid until early October.”The management is playing a game.The Namibian Government also.”Hossain said given recent developments his company had cancelled the contracts of several hundred more people it had signed up to come and work in Namibia.He said Ramatex had planned to recruit 2 000 Bangladeshi workers.Hossain said his agency could not be held responsible for the men’s living conditions and that the factory was to blame for accepting the accommodation provided by Saujana Blossom.However, he said, he had been prepared to assist a man named Hanif – a representative from Saujana Blossom which had formed a partnership with High Commissioner Gertze’s brother, Desmond – provide alternative living space but neither Ramatex nor the Government had given him this opportunity.LIVING CONDITIONSHossain claimed Ramatex was dishonest for having approved the living conditions of the men for so long.He said the men were used to living in cramped conditions back home, and that it was “normal” to shower outside and even sleep on the verandas of houses.Hossain said his investigations revealed that there were only about 28 people who were causing disturbance among the group.He said he had pleaded with the factory to only send them back home.Hossain left for Malaysia yesterday.He said he would attempt to claim compensation from Ramatex for breach of contract.He said he would also try and find work for the men at other factories in Mauritius, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.”I’m trying to solve my workers’ problems,” said Hossain.”I haven’t slept [while in Namibia].My head hurts.”He said he would definitely repay the men the US$1 500 they paid to secure the Namibian contract if he could not find them alternative employment.Hossain alleged that those recruits who reported that they had paid US$3 500 to secure work in Namibia were not telling the truth.Yesterday, Eastern Overseas Public Relations Officer Alif Hossain spoke out on the agency’s position for the first time.Hossain has kept a low profile while in Namibia, after his recruits physically attacked him when he arrived in Windhoek 10 days ago.He spoke to The Namibian before leaving for Malaysia.He claimed that Ramatex had misled and misguided his countrymen and had not been honest about the contract it entered into with the agency.”The Government is very unfair to us.They have no heart.It’s like a stone only,” charged Hossain.”The Bangladeshi workers are very poor men.They live from hand to mouth.Our workers are poor but honest.They are not harmful to the Government,” Hossain told The Namibian.’THEY WERE TRAINED’He said all the men sent to Namibia were semi-skilled contrary to the factory’s allegations that they were unskilled.Ramatex entered into an agreement with Eastern Overseas, a Bangladeshi government-approved recruiting agency, in May to recruit workers.According to a letter shown to The Namibian, and signed by Ramatex Executive Director Albert Lim Poh Boon, Ramatex requested 1 000 male workers from Bangladesh, stating that they be semi-skilled.The Ramatex management said it decided to put a stop to work permit applications for the men because they were unskilled.Hossain told The Namibian that his company had arranged a month of training for all the men it sent to Namibia – making them semi-skill
ed in the field of sewing.”It’s not a hard job (sewing).It’s not a pilot job.It’s a very easy job,” he commented.Hossain said several of the men had even worked overtime during their short stay in Namibia.This, he added, was proof that they were capable of doing the job.’MUSLIM FACTOR’Hossain claimed that the factory management had victimised the Bangladeshi workers because they were Muslim and allegedly incited them to revolt against the agency because they no longer wanted to employ them.Further, the factory had acted unfairly in not allowing the men to prove themselves during an agreed three months probation period.”It is very clear that we are not cheaters and liars,” he said.”The management misguided our workers.”In a letter dated May 5 2004, Ramatex stipulated that the contract period for the Bangladeshis would be for two years at a monthly salary of US$120 (N$780 at the current exchange rate).He showed The Namibian advertisements placed in Bangladeshi newspapers to recruit factory workers which state that they would receive a salary of US$120, while the factory would be responsible for their accommodation and transport.In terms of the contract, they were to work six-day weeks of 48 hours.They were promised an overtime rate of US$0,86 per hour and US$9,20 for working on Sundays or public holidays.Medical attention was to be provided free of charge, while accommodation and transport were to be arranged by the employer.In another letter, dated May 11, Eastern Overseas was authorised to ensure that the recruits signed all the necessary documents and contracts required by the laws of Bangladesh as well as to arrange for the passport and visa endorsements.The agency showed The Namibian receipts which indicate payments of MYR 35 486 (Malaysian ringgits – about N$62 586) made to Namibia’s Malaysian Embassy for visas for 399 people.’PLAYING GAMES’In a letter to Ramatex, dated April 30, the Ministry of Trade and Industry acknowledged the factory’s request to employ expatriates in accordance with its expansion intentions.The letter also noted that discussions on the matter had earlier taken place between Namibia’s Ambassador to Namibia Neville Gertze and Lim Poh Boon.The Ministry gave the company permission to employ expatriate workers for no longer than two years.The Namibia Investment Centre said it would be prepared to recruit local staff required for the expansion.Hossain charged that the Ramatex management “was playing games” with people’s lives.He was particularly upset that Government had not informed the Bangladeshi High Commission in Pretoria about their deportation decision and had not given them the opportunity to discuss the issue.The last of the Bangladeshi workers left the country at midday on Wednesday.The High Commissioner only managed to secure a meeting with Government officials at 16h00 that day.Hossain further alleged that the factory management had defied an order by Lim Poh Boon – that his company’s local management hold off on sending the men back immediately.Their temporary visas were valid until early October.”The management is playing a game.The Namibian Government also.”Hossain said given recent developments his company had cancelled the contracts of several hundred more people it had signed up to come and work in Namibia.He said Ramatex had planned to recruit 2 000 Bangladeshi workers.Hossain said his agency could not be held responsible for the men’s living conditions and that the factory was to blame for accepting the accommodation provided by Saujana Blossom.However, he said, he had been prepared to assist a man named Hanif – a representative from Saujana Blossom which had formed a partnership with High Commissioner Gertze’s brother, Desmond – provide alternative living space but neither Ramatex nor the Government had given him this opportunity.LIVING CONDITIONSHossain claimed Ramatex was dishonest for having approved the living conditions of the men for so long.He said the men were used to living in cramped conditions back home, and that it was “normal” to shower outside and even sleep on the verandas of houses.Hossain said his investigations revealed that there were only about 28 people who were causing disturbance among the group.He said he had pleaded with the factory to only send them back home.Hossain left for Malaysia yesterday.He said he would attempt to claim compensation from Ramatex for breach of contract.He said he would also try and find work for the men at other factories in Mauritius, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.”I’m trying to solve my workers’ problems,” said Hossain.”I haven’t slept [while in Namibia].My head hurts.”He said he would definitely repay the men the US$1 500 they paid to secure the Namibian contract if he could not find them alternative employment.Hossain alleged that those recruits who reported that they had paid US$3 500 to secure work in Namibia were not telling the truth.