By Emma Mutaizibwa
Oct 28, 2003
KAMPALA â 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 Agendaâs 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.
âThe 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,â Okumu told journalists at Reform Agendaâs weekly news briefing yesterday.
âBut the factory is violating the labour laws of this country. The working terms are typical of modern slavery,â he said.
He added: âWe have given them a week to reinstate these girls or else we shall ask the US to lock them out of business.â
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 âmodern slaveryâ.
âMultinational corporations are more powerful than the state; can you imagine Tri-Star Company uses the police to beat up innocent Ugandans?â
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.
 2003 The Monitor Publications
