H&M, Zara supplier accused of union-busting

DHAKA – Eight factories belonging to the Windy Group, which supplies to H&M and Zara, have been accused of sacking 3,000 workers as part of a union busting exercise. Garment workers sacked from Windy Group factories Saybolt Tex, Windy Wet & Dry Process and Tanaz Fashions have been staging hunger strikes and other protests at Windy Group factory premises.

The dismissals arrive at a time of major unrest in South East Asian garment supply chains, with waves of protests in sourcing hubs such as Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh and the Philippines. There have been frequent accusations from labour rights groups in recent months that factory owners are using the coronavirus pandemic as a means by which to bust unions.