Hundreds of garment workers from different parts of Bangladesh held a massive rally on 1 January to mark the end of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA).
Under the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA), garment products from countries such as Bangladesh enjoyed quota free access to US and European markets. But the MFA was phased out on 31 December as part of a global agreement with the World Trade Organisation.
The rally was organised by 24 national trade union federations from the country’s garment sector. Unions fear that a large number of garment workers may lose their job due to the expiry of the MFA.
The rally highlighted workers’ demands for job security and speakers demanded that the government support those workers who may be affected.