Daily Lesson from Life 13 May 2009

"'Overwork' kills Bangladesh jeans factory girl
She was forced to work 13 to 15 hours a day and got slapped in the face. -Wed, May 13, 2009 AFP

DHAKA (AFP) - A Bangladeshi teenager who died in a garment factory that supplies cheap jeans for export to Europe was "overworked to death," a rights group said.

Fatema Akter, an 18-year-old garment worker in the port city of Chittagong, died during her shift in December last year, according to the US-based National Labor Committee (NCL).

"Forced to work 13 to 15 hours a day, seven days a week, Fatema was sick and exhausted, with pains in her chest and arms," the report said, adding that her job was to clean 90 to 100 pairs of finished jeans per hour.


"Rather than grant her a sick day (her supervisor) slapped her face very hard and ordered her to continue working."

The committee said an investigation showed that 14-hour shifts with few breaks were common at the factory, overtime was compulsory and workers were regularly beaten by their superiors.
The report, released earlier this week, said 80 percent of garments produced at the factory were supplied to German-based retail giant Metro Group.


NCL has called on Metro Group, which sells bargain jeans across Europe, to guarantee the legal rights of the workers.

A statement issued by Metro Group said the company was "deeply saddened" by the death and had immediately terminated its contract with the Bangladeshi supplier that used the factory.


Rights groups have long questioned the working conditions in Bangladesh's thousands of garment "sweatshops," which provide some the cheapest labour in the world.

Last year Spanish fashion firm Zara forced the closure of a supplier's factory in the capital Dhaka after workers said they were being abused."

It is a tragedy indeed for a young girl to die from overworking and from being exploited by her fellow country folks who run the factory.

Lessons for me are:

1. the pursuit of profitability via low cost is understandable and a legitimate cause for business. However, when the low cost is achieved through inhuman treatment and unreasonably harsh condition to the workers, then a line must be drawn on the ground and stop the abuses;

2. responsible corporations will do these checks on their contractors once in a while to discharge their social responsibility. However, the subcontractors are the one who are directly responsible for the welfare of their workers. There is no excuses really for any employers to ill-treat their workers and worked them to death;

3. poverty is a reality in the country mentioned. So, the biggest responsibility to eliminate such tragedies actually lie with the government leaders of the days. Do they have the overall interest of the people at hearts. If they are not rich, then try to cultivate a spendthrift culture so that people can live simply but happily. It is not an easy thing to do but that's why it is worth the efforts!

May the young girl rest in peace and that all employers of conscience must realize that the right thing to do is to walk away from the business if you cannot make money to feed or treat your workers well!