Bangladeshis in out-of-court settlement with factory

THE last of the Ramatex Textile Factory’s Bangladeshi workers are set to leave the country tomorrow.

This follows an out-of-court settlement which was still being finalised yesterday. The aggrieved workers were tight-lipped yesterday over the details of the agreement, ostensibly not to jeopardise their position.They apparently struck the deal without their legal representative present.The group of 66 were the first Bangladeshi workers employed by the factory – more than a year ago on a three-year contract.The Namibian understands that they will receive at least nine months’ salary, of US$200 a month, and that their repatriation costs will also be covered by the textile factory.The accommodation costs from the time they were sacked will also be covered.They could also receive compensation for the legal costs they incurred during the case.The group were fired on the spot from the factory for alleged poor performance at the end of July.A High Court order gave them the right to stay in the country to fight their alleged unfair treatment by the factory.The case was postponed twice to give the factory an opportunity to strike a deal with the complainants.The men will follow 372 of their countrymen who were deported two weeks ago because they allegedly failed to meet the factory’s production standards.The aggrieved workers were tight-lipped yesterday over the details of the agreement, ostensibly not to jeopardise their position.They apparently struck the deal without their legal representative present.The group of 66 were the first Bangladeshi workers employed by the factory – more than a year ago on a three-year contract.The Namibian understands that they will receive at least nine months’ salary, of US$200 a month, and that their repatriation costs will also be covered by the textile factory.The accommodation costs from the time they were sacked will also be covered.They could also receive compensation for the legal costs they incurred during the case.The group were fired on the spot from the factory for alleged poor performance at the end of July.A High Court order gave them the right to stay in the country to fight their alleged unfair treatment by the factory.The case was postponed twice to give the factory an opportunity to strike a deal with the complainants.The men will follow 372 of their countrymen who were deported two weeks ago because they allegedly failed to meet the factory’s production standards.