Sacked Bangladeshi workers reject Ramatex reinstatement

BANGLADESHI workers who were sacked on the spot by the Ramatex Textile Factory three weeks ago have rejected an offer to be re-employed at a lower salary.

Last week, the Malaysian-run concern said it was prepared to reinstate the 66 workers who sought High Court action to challenge their dismissal. But the group told The Namibian that they were not prepared to accept the offer of US$120 because they previously earned US$200.The factory alleges that the men are unskilled workers and therefore cannot be reinstated and be paid their former salaries.Ramatex has also alleged that they performed below the expected standard – the purported reason given by the factory for dismissing them.The Bangladeshi workers said they were willing to continue discussions on a settlement arrangement ahead of a court date set for September 6 to iron out the dispute.However, they said, they feared returning to the factory only to be sacked again in a few months.Some members of the disgruntled group say they are prepared to travel home should the factory agree to pay them out for the remaining two years of their three-year contract.The dispute follows the arrival of more than 300 new Bangladeshi workers over the past month who, in their short time in the country, are already up in arms over their poor working and living arrangements.The entire group is being housed in a six-roomed house with only one bathroom.They have no mattresses or bedding.On Friday they complained to The Namibian of suffering from diarrhoea and other stomach complaints because of their living conditions.They alleged that despite US$45 being deducted from their monthly wage of US$120 for food, they were not being fed well.Some have paid as much as US$3 500 – by selling property, valuables and lending money at high interest rates – to secure a working contract in Namibia.But the group told The Namibian that they were not prepared to accept the offer of US$120 because they previously earned US$200.The factory alleges that the men are unskilled workers and therefore cannot be reinstated and be paid their former salaries.Ramatex has also alleged that they performed below the expected standard – the purported reason given by the factory for dismissing them.The Bangladeshi workers said they were willing to continue discussions on a settlement arrangement ahead of a court date set for September 6 to iron out the dispute.However, they said, they feared returning to the factory only to be sacked again in a few months.Some members of the disgruntled group say they are prepared to travel home should the factory agree to pay them out for the remaining two years of their three-year contract.The dispute follows the arrival of more than 300 new Bangladeshi workers over the past month who, in their short time in the country, are already up in arms over their poor working and living arrangements.The entire group is being housed in a six-roomed house with only one bathroom.They have no mattresses or bedding.On Friday they complained to The Namibian of suffering from diarrhoea and other stomach complaints because of their living conditions.They alleged that despite US$45 being deducted from their monthly wage of US$120 for food, they were not being fed well.Some have paid as much as US$3 500 – by selling property, valuables and lending money at high interest rates – to secure a working contract in Namibia.