Allegation of union busting and bad labour practices at Banglalink

UNI Global Union files OECD complaint against VimpelCom

UNI Global Union, the international trade union federation representing 20 million workers in the services sector, has filed an OECD complaint in the Netherlands against Dutch telecommunications company VimpelCom, UNI Global Union said in a statement.
The complaint relates to union busting and bad labour practices at Bangladesh’s second biggest telecommunications company, Banglalink, which is owned by VimpelCom.  
Based in Amsterdam, VimpelCom is partly owned by Norwegian ICTS giant Telenor.
According to the statement, when Banglalink employees submitted an application to register the Banglalink employees Union (BLEU), the company retaliated. A union leader was immediately fired and two others have been forced to resign due to the pressure of intimidation and persecution. The application for registration was rejected on vague grounds, and both the company and the government oppose the registration of a union with support from 35 per cent of Banglalink employees. The legal requirement for the registration of a trade union in Bangladesh is 30 per cent.
Banglalink’s anti-union stance violates the basic standards of the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. It demonstrates that VimpelCom has failed to adequately implement systems and safeguards to ensure that workers’ rights are respected at all levels of its global operations, it added.
The National Contact Point of the OECD in the Netherlands should help resolve these complaints through mediation and help provide a framework in which workers’ rights and freedom of association are respected at all levels of VimpelCom’s international operations.
“There is no excuse for VimpelCom’s refusal to allow a union in Bangladesh,” said UNI Global Union Deputy General Secretary Christy Hoffman.
“We have tried to persuade the company to step up and take responsibility for the disgraceful actions of its Banglalink management, but it has not engaged.
We have therefore asked the Dutch NCP to consider our case concerning VimpelCom’s failure to meet its obligations under the OECD Guidelines.”
“The situation at Banglalink is deteriorating quickly, and we call upon VimpelCom to urgently intervene and restore some decency and fairness at this workplace. Their Bangladeshi employees are professionals and they are serious about their work.  They should not be treated so poorly."

Allegation of union busting and bad labour practices at Banglalink

UNI Global Union files OECD complaint against VimpelCom

UNI Global Union, the international trade union federation representing 20 million workers in the services sector, has filed an OECD complaint in the Netherlands against Dutch telecommunications company VimpelCom, UNI Global Union said in a statement. The complaint relates to union busting and bad labour practices at Bangladeshs second biggest telecommunications company, Banglalink, which is owned by VimpelCom. Based in Amsterdam, VimpelCom is partly owned by Norwegian ICTS giant Telenor. According to the statement, when Banglalink employees submitted an application to register the Banglalink employees Union (BLEU), the company retaliated. A union leader was immediately fired and two others have been forced to resign due to the pressure of intimidation and persecution. The application for registration was rejected on vague grounds, and both the company and the government oppose the registration of a union with support from 35 per cent of Banglalink employees. The legal requirement for the registration of a trade union in Bangladesh is 30 per cent. Banglalinks anti-union stance violates the basic standards of the OECDs Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. It demonstrates that VimpelCom has failed to adequately implement systems and safeguards to ensure that workers rights are respected at all levels of its global operations, it added. The National Contact Point of the OECD in the Netherlands should help resolve these complaints through mediation and help provide a framework in which workers rights and freedom of association are respected at all levels of VimpelComs international operations. There is no excuse for VimpelComs refusal to allow a union in Bangladesh, said UNI Global Union Deputy General Secretary Christy Hoffman. We have tried to persuade the company to step up and take responsibility for the disgraceful actions of its Banglalink management, but it has not engaged. We have therefore asked the Dutch NCP to consider our case concerning VimpelComs failure to meet its obligations under the OECD Guidelines. The situation at Banglalink is deteriorating quickly, and we call upon VimpelCom to urgently intervene and restore some decency and fairness at this workplace. Their Bangladeshi employees are professionals and they are serious about their work. They should not be treated so poorly.