|
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. | 
