Document #1024531
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Information on women and trade union
activity is scarce. Bangladesh, with a population of about 120
million, is still overwhelmingly an agricultural country, with 87
per cent of the population residing in the countryside, only three
cities of more than 500,000, and a median age of 17 years
(Encyclopedia of the Third World 1992, 112). The unionization rate
is a very low 3 per cent of the civilian workforce (Trade Unions of
the World 1992-93 1991, 35) and women who join trade unions or
enter politics are considered "nonconformists" (Begum 1985,
18).
Trade unions in Bangladesh are highly
politicized: all or nearly all trade unions and labour centrals are
connected to political parties (ibid.; Halim 30 May 1995),
generally the ruling party, and unions are quick to switch
allegiances if a new party comes to power (ibid.). Sources indicate
that it is considered "normal" for a party to establish a union
wing as part of a strategy for building a political base in the
working class (Trade Unions of the World 1992-93 1991, 35; New Left
Review Mar.-Apr. 1988, 119). One source reports that there are
about 10 garment workers' unions affiliated to political parties,
and that, in general, this relationship is to the benefit of the
parties rather than the workers (Commission for Justice and Peace
13 June 1995). Most of the left wing parties have women's fronts
whose professed aim is to organize women workers (New Left Review
Mar.-Apr. 1988, 119). However, according to Kabeer, the women's
fronts "tend to be as concerned with expanding political allegiance
to their respective parties as they are with defending the rights
of workers," and "men [retain] control at every level of the union
and party bureaucracy" (ibid.). According to Kabeer, "women
activists are deemed essential, since social segregation inhibits
contact between male trade unionists and women workers"
(ibid.).
Writing in the mid-1980s, Begum indicates
that the government had adopted a very narrow definition of what
constituted legitimate political activity. While the women's wings
of the political parties were free to operate, the government,
distinguishing between socioeconomic and political activities,
banned "social welfare" organizations from participating in
politics (1985, 18). While favouring a few apolitical social
service organizations, it cited security reasons to restrict the
activities of organizations demanding full employment, labour law
reform, improved wages or a return to democracy (ibid., 19-20).
In the garment industry, one of the largest
employers of women in Bangladesh 85 to 90 per cent of the estimated
1.2 million workers are women (Abdul Momen Khan Foundation 1995, 4;
Commission for Justice and Peace 13 June 1995) there are few
independent trade unions (ibid.; Abdul Momen Khan Foundation 1995,
5; Halim 30 May 1995). Another source indicates that the few unions
in the garment industry are employer-controlled (Abdul Momen Khan
Foundation 1995, 5).
Recent evidence suggests that women workers
may be making some gains, at least in the garment industry, where
workers recently formed the Bangladesh Independent Garment-workers
Union (BIGU) (Commission for Justice and Peace 13 June 1995). An
independent union, BIGU is not supported by the factory owners and
reportedly has encountered strong opposition from a powerful
association of exporters and employers known as BGMEA (ibid.).
Further information on women and trade
union activity could not be found among the sources consulted by
the DIRB. For further information on women workers in the garment
industry, the reader may wish to consult Hameda Hossain et al., No
Better Option? Industrial Women Workers in Bangladesh (Dhaka:
University Press, 1990). For the list of attachments and sources
consulted, please refer to Response to Information Request
BGD21346.EX of 6 October 1995.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Abdul Momen Khan Memorial Foundation,
Dhaka. 1995. "Current Status of Women and Children in Bangladesh;
Myths & Realities." Paper presented at an 8 June 1995 CIDA
information session, Hull, Québec.
Begum, Maleka. 1985. "Women's
Participation in Politics in Bangladesh: Its Nature and
Limitations," Women and Politics in Bangladesh. Dhaka: Centre for
Women and Development.
Commission for Justice and Peace, Dhaka.
13 June 1995. Letter received from member in response to questions
faxed by the DIRB.
Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992.
4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on
File.
Halim, Sadeka. PhD candidate
specializing in women and development issues in Bangladesh and
India, Department of Sociology, McGill University, Montréal.
30 May 1995. Telephone interview.
New Left Review [London]. March/April
1988. No. 168. Naila Kabeer. "Subordination and Struggle: Women in
Bangladesh."
Trade Unions of the World 1992-93. 1991. 3rd ed. Edited by Martin Upham. Harlow, Essex: Longman Group UK Ltd.
Information on women and politics, part 6 of 6: Trade unions [BGD21351.EX] (Response, French)