[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      INTERNATIONAL WORKERS RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2001

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I submit to the record a story of two young 
women whose voices we in hear. Last Thursday, ``Ms. A'' and ``Ms. B'' 
traveled from Bangladesh to our nation's Capital to tell their story. 
The two women are the survivors of the horrendous fire that occurred in 
the Chowdhury Knitwear factory in Bangladesh on November 25, 2000.
  Sadly, their story echoes the events of the 1911 fire that occurred 
at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City where 146 young 
garment workers were killed.
  The women traveled to the United States to tell their compelling 
story of the dangerous working conditions under which they are forced 
to work. Fifty-one of their co-workers were killed in the fire that 
blazed through the factory. Many of the workers were electrocuted, 
suffocated, or trampled to death, due to the doors of the factory being 
locked that evening by the owners to keep union organizers out. Through 
timid voices they explained that they are forced to work long hours, 
and had not received a raise in two years. They spoke of their fear for 
their jobs when they returned home because of their trip to the United 
States. However, they stated that they traveled to the United States to 
tell their story in hope of making a difference for the workers in the 
Chowdhury factory in Bangladesh and workers around the world.
  In Bangladesh nearly 80% of garment workers do not earn the legal 
monthly minimum wage of $17. The average workday is 12-14 hours, many 
times for as little as 5 cents an hour. The workers are denied the 
right to organize and are subjected to deplorable working conditions. 
``Ms. A''and ``Ms. B'' sew for first-world clients at the Chowdhury 
Knitwear Factory. The factory produces towels and bedding products that 
are shipped to the European Union. However, the owner of the factory 
owns and operates another factory across the street that makes products 
that are shipped to the United States.
  Unfortunately, there are many factory workers who can tell stories 
such as ``Ms. A'' and ``Ms. B's''. There are factories like the 
Chowdhury Knitwear factory in Bangladesh all over the world. In the 
past decade hundreds of workers have been killed in factory fires 
throughout Asia, in Thailand, and in China. We have a responsibility to 
impel companies in countries such as Bangladesh to provide their 
workers with safe conditions and the right to organize, and 
collectively bargain. America should not allow the import of goods from 
nations that allow the exploitation of their own workers.
  As a member of the International Workers Right Caucus, I strongly 
urge the United States Congress, and all nations to ratify the 
International Labor Organization Standards providing individuals abroad 
basic worker rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit to the record the story of these women and 
their associates because I am their voice, the voice that can be heard 
by the American public, and by the U.S. government.
  It is because of the conditions that exist at the Chowdhury Knitwear 
factory in Bangladesh that I will continue to fight for labor rights 
both home and abroad.

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