e_Paper, Wednesday, April 21, 2017

News 5
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017
‘Trade unions are only strong if
they are well-equipped’
Michael Sommer, vice-chairman of Germany-based foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and a member of
the ILO governing body, is currently visiting Dhaka to initiate a training programme for trade unionists titled
Academy of Work. In an exclusive interview with the Dhaka Tribune’s Saqib Sarker, Sommer discusses the
training programme, trade unions and other issues
DT
What is the Academy of Work and
what is it aimed at?
The Academy of Work (AoW) is a
three-month academic programme
for mid-level trade unionists. It is
the very first initiative in Bangladesh
that enables emerging young leaders
from the trade union movement to
participate in an intensive cross-sector
training programme in the field
of industrial relations, economy and
the decent work in the global supply
chain in their very own language.
The content and modules of the
AoW have been developed in close
collaboration with Bangladesh Institute
of Labour Studies, Brac Institute
of Governance and Development
and Brac University during the last
12 months.
The modules cover subjects such
as the history of unions, workers’
rights, social economic policies,
trade and globalisation, and management
and organisation. All modules
combine both theory and practice
as well as the local and global
dimension. In the long run, the academy
will strengthen the unions and
also foster a social dialogue between
unions and employers’ associations.
The 16 fellows selected for the programme
come from various industries:
RMG, construction and transport,
as well as the public sector. All
participants were selected through a
multi-stake selection process.
How was the idea developed, and
how is the FES a part of it?
The idea for the AoW originated
from the trade union movement
itself. Since the Rana Plaza tragedy,
there have been many initiatives
to strengthen the trade union
movement in Bangladesh. However,
most of those were short-term
training programmes even though
the trade unionists demanded a
more comprehensive programme
that would combine local topics,
workers’ rights, trade union history,
Bangladesh’s economic situation,
etc. They seek an understanding
of a globalised world and
equip them with the necessary
knowledge to strengthen their own
movement and thereby support
Michael Sommer
both economic growth and decent
work in Bangladesh.
With a long history going back to
1925 and having its roots in the German
and international labour movement,
the FES has worked on both
socio-political and economic development
in more than 100 countries.
These roots connect us to topics
such as decent work, industrial relations
and the search for a socially
just and sustainable economic model.
The idea of AoW lies at the very
heart of FES’ work worldwide.
The AoW complements our work
in Bangladesh, which officially started
in 2014. Since the very beginning,
our work aimed at strengthening the
trade union movement, to support a
functioning social dialogue and partnership
and to facilitate inclusive
dialogues and an economic model
which combine decent work and
economic growth. We have the impression
that the AoW will address
all these topics successfully and is
therefore a unique programme in
Bangladesh and in the global South.
You visited Bangladesh in 2014, one
year after the Rana Plaza tragedy.
What is your impression this time?
Yes, I came here in 2014 for the
inauguration of the FES office in
Dhaka. Since then, I have wanted
to come back.
From my understanding after the
crisis in 2013, there have been major
improvements in the area of health
MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
and security. Quite important were
initiatives like Accord, a legally binding
agreement between companies,
NGOs and unions that assures more
industrial safety/worker protection
in the textile factories. The Accord
has provided an unprecedented
transparency and is a best-practice
example for other countries.
The improvements, however, are
limited to the export-oriented RMG
sector. They have not been implemented
to the same degree in the local
textile market. The same applies to
other industrial areas, such as leather.
There are various other fields that
must be improved, such as the freedom
of association and collective
bargaining. Also, the social dialogue
and the so-called tripartite dialogue,
which brings together unions, employers
and the government, are still
insufficient. Development like the
protests in Ashulia have clearly underlined
that.
The FES Bangladesh has conducted
a study examining the situation
of the tripartite committee in
the RMG industries which provides
a good overview as well as suggestions
on how a social dialogue can
be structured more efficiently. Instead
of the often spontaneously
launched bodies and committees
in times of crises, we need a proactive,
democratic, structured, longterm
dialogues between employers
and employees to strengthen the
employees’ rights in the long run.
The mandate of the committee
must be clearly defined as well.
You have underlined the need for a
social dialogue. How can the AoW
contribute to that?
A functioning social dialogue relies
on strong unions. Unions are only
strong if they are well-equipped
both internally and externally. This is
where the AoW comes in. It enables
access to expert knowledge as well
as hands-on exercises in the area of
management and organisation.
In addition, the three-month
training allows an intensive dialogue
between unions across sectors. Such
a unique space for communication
strengthens the collaboration inside
the labour movement. The AoW also
benefits from the employers’ and
government’s expertise as actors
from both the sectors will be involved
in various sessions. This will foster a
better dialogue between unions, employers
and the government.
Given the adverse circumstances,
how can trade unions effectively
function in Bangladesh?
The cooperation and solidarity between
unions is crucial. This is not
limited to the activities within one
area. Similar to the social dialogue,
unions must work together across
sectors. Furthermore, trade unions
must become experts in their own
fields. They must challenge the public
opinion that they are the ones who are
harmful for the economy. They should
be the actors who provide knowledge
and expertise, and identify ways on
how an economic model combining
economic growth and decent work
can strengthen Bangladesh in an ever-increasing
globalised world.
Around 60% of Bangladesh’s RMG
exports go to the EU. How is the
AoW addressing the connection
between workers’ rights and
western consumption in an
increasingly globalised world?
I strongly believe that the concept
of the AoW – focusing on globalisation,
due diligence and global supply
chains – comes at the very right
moment. Speaking on behalf of
the FES, I think it is time to discuss
the responsibility along the global
supply chain, thus automatically
about the responsibility of countries
such as Germany. Decent work
and economic growth in countries
like Bangladesh can only be assured
when all stakeholders work together
and when countries like Germany,
including the brands and buyers, do
their homework.
The discussion on the compliance
with workers’ rights can and must
not take place only in Bangladesh and
other countries that are known for
their huge production sector. Globally,
Bangladesh is the second largest
export country. Bangladesh exports
to Germany amount to $4.3 million
and various German brands produce
their products in Bangladesh.
This underlines the fact that Germany
and Europe are directly connected
to more than four million
workers in the textile sector and
carry responsibilities for the compliance
with core labour standards.
Important initiatives and tools
have been launched in Europe in recent
months, which strengthen the
responsibility throughout the global
value chain and are more binding
for companies, brands and governments
in Europe. The OECD guidelines,
the combination of trade policies
with social standards as well as
the French law on due diligence are
just some examples.
The AoW supports unionists in
getting to know these instruments
and to discuss them in the broader
context of economic, social and trade
policies. If these tools are meant to
contribute to the workers’ rights as
well as the overall well-being of Bangladesh’s
economy, it is inevitable for
the local unions to also become part
of the international discussion.
What is the long-term goal of AoW in
Bangladesh?
I am happy to announce that we plan
to have a new cohort of fellows every
year. From the very first year on, we
will establish an alumni programme
which will support the participants
to become multipliers in their expert
communities. •
TEMPERATURE FORECAST FOR TODAY
Dhaka 31 25 Chittagong 31 26 Rajshahi 35 26 Rangpur 26 22 Khulna 34 27 Barisal 31 26 Sylhet 26 21
Cox’s Bazar 30 25
HEAVY RAIN LIKELY
FRIDAY, APRIL 21
DHAKA
TODAY
TOMORROW
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SUN RISES 5:31AM
YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW
33.2ºC
18.8ºC
Satkhira
Chuadanga
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Fajr: 5:10am | Zohr: 1:15pm
Asr: 5:00pm | Magrib: 6:28pm
Esha: 8:15pm
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