Laying off hundreds of workers from the garment company

The garment company in Mahmoodya 25 Km south of Baghdad, which contains 1800 workers, has off more than 500 workers most of them were women. The management has made this decision based on allegation saying, “They are more than what we need”. The workers who were let go received no compensation or any kinds of benefit in spite of many of them have spent more than seventeen years in this company. Besides some of them were to old to look for another job or another opportunity.

The laid off workers have mentioned that the list of the lay off was prepared by the official union that is being illegalized by the government and enjoys good relations with the management. Furthermore, union members themselves have carried out the layoff process.

The federation of worker councils and unions in Iraq who organized the laid off workers, is preparing to carry out a demonstration and sit in, in front of the ministry of labor demanding their return to work, providing an alternative job or issuing an employment insurance to compensate the lost jobs.

Federation of Worker Councils and Unions in Iraq

Sept.2005