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KAMPALA - Sacked female staff of Apparel
Tri-star company, currently camped at Parliament to protest their
dismissal, have alleged that their bosses had asked to have sex with
them.
The
Bugolobi-based company produces textile products for export under
the African Growth Opportunity Act.
The
workers, popularly known as Agoa girls, were Friday evening meeting
the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Mr Sam
Bitangaro, Minister of Ethics and Integrity Mr Tim Lwanga, Workers'
MPs and officials from National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU)
together with some officials from the Bugolobi factory.
The
Agoa girls pointed out Mr Mohamed Hyezi, who was in the meeting, as
one of those who had been making sexual advances on them.
They
alleged that he would harass those who would turn down his advances.
The girls further alleged that one of the girls gave in to Hyezi's
amorous demands and she was promoted as personnel manager.
Hyezi
preferred to keep quiet when he was asked to respond to the
allegations. He also could not explain what criteria the management
used to select about 200 girls who were dismissed.
The
meeting with MPs was aimed at resolving the conflict and getting
redress for the sacked girls pending a civil suit they have filed in
court against the factory management.
Court
has halted the girls' dismissal and will start hearing their case on
October 31.
The
Tri-star management, however, has declined to sign the court
injunction halting the dismissal. The company managing director Mr
V. Kananathan could not be reached for comment as he was reportedly
in a meeting.
He also
refused to meet ministers Sam Bitangaro and Tim Lwanga, the Workers
MPs and labour officials on Friday at the Ministry of Labour's
boardroom where the group had been waiting for about an
hour.
He
reportedly said he would not talk to anyone except the president.
Deputy press secretary to the president, Mr Onapito Ekomoloit said
there was no appointment yet set for the president to meet
Kananathan.
"We are
still busy wrapping up the IGAD meeting, after which we can then
begin to think of such small things as meeting Kananathan," Onapito
said.
"There
is total disregard of law, lack of respect for government
institutions and officials. Are these investors above the law?"
Workers MP Martin Wandera asked.
Meanwhile about 200 Agoa girls are still camped at Parliament
pending the outcome of mediation talks between government and the
factory management.
"We are
ready to stay here even for years as long as our demands are not
met," one of the girls said.
Bakabulindi denies bribery
Meanwhile, Workers' MP Charles Bakabulindi denied allegations
that he took a bribe worth Shs 30m from Kananathan.
"I have
never at any one time asked for anything from that man," Bakabulindi
said.
"Kananathan is just being frivolous as usual. But he will not
get away with it,' Bakabulindi said.
At a
previous meeting arranged by Dr David Ogaram, the commissioner for
labour, Bakabulindi asked Kananathan to substantiate his claims that
the MP solicited a bribe from him. Kananathan did not
respond. | 
