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KAMPALA � The Reform Agenda yesterday gave
Apparels Tri-Star a one-week ultimatum to reinstate the recently
fired employees or else it would petition the American
government.
The
textile factory, which exports apparels to the United States under
the African Growth and Opportunity Act, was closed last week after
more than 200 female employees went on strike protesting low pay
and poor working conditions.
The
management subsequently sacked the striking employees, popularly
called Agoa girls.
Mr
Reagan Okumu, the Reform Agenda�s first vice chairman, said he
would give the benefit of the doubt to Tri-Star to reinstate the
fired girls.
If
that fails, he said, he would ask the US Congress to close down
the factory owned by Sri Lankan businessman Vellupillai
Kananathan.
�The
law that was enacted by the US Congress on Agoa emphasises that
the country that is exporting its goods to the US must be
democratic,� Okumu told journalists at Reform Agenda�s weekly news
briefing yesterday.
�But
the factory is violating the labour laws of this country. The
working terms are typical of modern slavery,� he said.
He
added: �We have given them a week to reinstate these girls or else
we shall ask the US to lock them out of business.�
The
official, who is also the MP for Aswa County, said that although
Agoa is supposed to be ran as a state institution, it is being ran
like a family business.
Another Reform Agenda official, Mr Christopher Kibanzanga,
who is also MP for Busongora South, said the conditions at the
Apparels Tri-Star factory represent �modern slavery�.
�Multinational corporations� are more powerful than the
state; can you imagine Tri-Star Company uses the police to beat up
innocent Ugandans?�
Kananathan was unavailable for comment and his phone was
switched off.
The
presidential assistant on Agoa, Ms Suzan Muhwezi, was also not
available for comment. | 
