Deported Garment Workers of Mauritius
A group of 3 Sri Lankan Garment Workers called at our office and sought our intervention to win over their demands. They are from the batch of 114 garment workers who were dismissed and deported by management of Compagnce Mauricienne De Textile Ltee (CMP –EP2 Company) A batch of 70 workers have been summarily dismissed and deported earlier now making a total of 184 returnees. They had not completed contracts had visas to work which were cancelled by management. They produced specimens of Contract signed with Sri Lanka Employment Agent which we find are faulty as conditions of employment are unclear, dubious, and no one from employers side has signed these contracts. It appears to be a direct recruitment by employer through an individual.
Workers through their spokespersons H.A.J. Wijesinghe,
E.G. Sriyalatha, Ranji Weerasekera, demand the following:-
1) Due to unilateral termination of contract unfair dismissal and deportation compensation equivalent to six months wages be paid immediately.
2) Calculation and payment of all areas of wages.
3) Payment of overtime at rate of 35 Hrs OT per month.
4) Refund of money recovered for Air tickets for premature return as well as deportation costs and inconveniences at Airport.
5) Certificate of termination with service record and performance merits.
Another group representing a batch of 400 girls who were brought in buses to Airport, threatened into submission through dismissal and deportation fears and kept in an abandoned area also spoke. They said without any reason or notice they were forcibly evacuated from hostel and stranded for 4 days in buses awaiting call any time to board plane for return to Sri Lanka. From this group following garment workers had subsequently returned to Sri Lanka and presented them selves to us.
1. K.P. Chamila Kumari Pathirana
2. K.P. Nilmini Kumari Pathirana
3. Anoja Sriyamalee
4. Mallika Ramyalatha
The four workers mentioned are also making claims for arrears of pay, overtime, illegal, deductions, breach of contract. Their problems may be handled separately as a secondary issue.
The batch who stayed behind are pinning their faith on guarantees given by management and Bureau of Foreign Employment that better terms will be offered and they given re employment.
With 400 who were returned to factory in Mauritius a group of around 900 workers are employed. It appeared from the conversation with workers that there are four Sri Lankan male junior Executives who have established extra legal powers over the female workers who are threatened and harassed.
Workers recall a meeting with Labour Department in Mauritius and said they were introduced to a Trade Union leader called Faizal who encouraged them to take “Direct action"
At CMT, Living conditions are horrible, water seeps in the floor and rooms have to be constantly drained to be kept dry. Food is not satisfactory and half hour allowed is hardly adequate. No facilities for reflection or relaxation available. Workers are required to maintain targets that compel them to work till around midnight on some occasions.
9 toilets were initially available for a work force of around 900. No water on tap. Water is rationed to ½ litre per worker per day.
One saving feature is the recognition by workers and their confidence in Mr. Woo the Employer, as a fair person who is ready to listen and make improvements for comfort and satisfaction of workers. It is a pity that he was not involved in the conciliatory process in the situations that led to deportations and dismissals.
In our view conditions in factory are not satisfactory to merit production of “clean clothes” Labour is exploited with impunity. Sri Lanka’s Junior Management Personnel in factory should pursue a fair Labour Policy. They should undergo training as the 21st century garment worker is no longer ready to be exploited.
Bro. Anton Lodwick, Secretary General, NWC met these workers, listened to their grievances and promised that he will request our Union contacts in Mauritius Bro. Toolsyraj Benydin of Mauritius Labour Congress, Bro.Feizal Begumn, Mauritius Trade Union Congress to intervene in this matter. As an immediate measure, he requested them to use their good offices and take up this issue with management and reach a satisfactory settlement on paying arrears of wages and other issues as workers were willing to facilitate a conciliatory process.
We invited our Trade Union friends in Mauritius for a meeting of this group of workers as these ex employees were requested to participate in public manifestation on 6th May 2007 our Union friend.
14 employees of CMT were present on 6/05/2007 to represent nearly 300 Mauritius employees. They joined in a public manifestation requested Trade Union intervention in their dispute and committed them selves for Trade Union action in future. They drew up a proposal for balance wages, OT payment and compensation for forced deportation and wanted to effect an amicable settlement. Trade Union representatives from Mauritius are to meet workers assess their claims and grievances and present them to management of CMT Mauritius for settlement.