Erneut Todesopfer bei Feuer in Textilfabrik!

Am 7. Dezember gab es einen Kurzschluss im zweiten Stock einer Textilfabrik in New Delhi - in dem Arbeitsraum, in dem auch grössere Baumwollvorräte gestapelt waren, die sofort Feuer fingen. 12 tote ArbeiterInnen - darunter ein 10jähriges Kind - wurden so verbrannt, dass sie bis jetzt nicht identifiziert werden konnten. Nicht der erste Fall in diesem Jahr in indischen Weltmarkt-Sweatshops - zu befürchten ist, auch nicht der letzte, solange Wettbewerbsfähigkeit das Maß aller Dinge ist. Die Textilgewerkschaft "Garments Mahila Karmikara Munnade" organisierte am 11. Dezember eine grosse Trauer- und Protestkundgebung in Bangalore, bei der die drei Forderungen der Gewerkschaft bekannt gemacht wurden: Einsetzung einer mehrseitigen Kommission zur generellen Untersuchung der Arbeitsbedingungen in der Textilindustrie, Bestrafung der Verantwortlichen und Entschädigung für die Angehörigen. Die (englische) Pressemitteilung "Death of 12 Garment Workers in Delhi Factory Fire" der Textilgewerkschaft vom 11. Dezember 2005.

Death of 12 Garment Workers in Delhi Factory Fire: Protest and Condolence Meeting

Sunday the 11th of December 2005 , 11.00 am to 12.30 noon , Near Mahatma Gandhi Statue, M G Road, Bangalore.

Organised by 'Garments Mahila Karmikara Munnade'

We, the members of Garments Mahila Karmikara Munnade, representing women workers in the garment industry in Bangalore strongly condemn the negligence of the management of the factory in New Delhi resulting in a fire on Wednesday the 7th of December 2005 in which 12 workers including 4 women workers perished.

The garment industry as a rule has been extremely slow in raising the labour standards of workers in the sector. The government machinery has not been sufficiently alert in checking the violations of labour rights by garment sector managements.

Garment exports have been growing in recent years and the industry has been making huge profits, yet the benefits have not gone to the workers. Wages are stagnant and appalling working conditions prevail in this sector including harassment of women workers. The industry has often failed even in protecting the lives of workers due to its negligence of health and safety provisions.

We therefore demand the following.

1.. The Central and State governments must immediately initiate a 'National Audit' of safety and health conditions in the thousands of factories spread among eight garment manufacturing cities in India.

2.. Strong legal action must be taken against Shri. Rakesh Grover, owner of the Delhi factory where the lives of 12 workers have been sacrificed, including his arrest and charging the management of criminal negligence.

3.. The victims' families must be adequately compensated not only in cash but by providing for the education of their children and upkeep of their dependents.

Speakers: Prof. Hasan Mansoor (People's Union for Civil Liberties), Smt. Geeta Menon (Sthree Jagruthi Samiti), Prof. Manu, Dr. Vijaya, Journalist, Sri. A J Srinivasan, Advocate, Sri. Sundar ( Bangalore Engineering and General Worker's Union) and Jayaram K R (Cividep)

In solidarity,

V. P. Rukmini, D. L. Shylaja and N. R. Pushpa, Convenors, 'Garments Mahila Karmikara Munnade'/ No. 8/3, Srimatha Nilaya, New Timber Yard Layout, Mysore Road, Bangalore