Support the Debenhams 69 in Bangladesh

This fundraiser is essentially about workers helping workers. Irish Debenhams retail workers helping 69 of our colleagues in the Bangladesh Liason office who, like us, were left high and dry by Debenhams U.K. They are owed at least 2 months salary and redundancy and are struggling to feed their families. We also want to help Bangladeshi garment workers whose jobs are in jeopardy. Recent media reports stated that Debenhams U.K. currently owe £21 million to suppliers in Bangladesh for goods which are on route or already in U.K. ports. Debenhams administrator is demanding a whopping 90% discount on these orders. If the factory owners lose then thousands of garment workers will potentially be without work. As a group of workers recently made redundant by Debenhams it angered us that this company could be responsible for ruining the livelihoods of so many people in such a cavalier manner. We are mindful of our Debenhams colleagues who have been left with nothing, not even enough to feed their families. At least we have unemployment benefit. There is no unemployment benefit in Bangladesh. The covid 19 pandemic has stopped any daily wages and there is no hope whatsoever of securing employment. Our anger has turned to action so we have set up this fundraiser to support our Debenhams colleagues in Bangladesh as well as the garment workers. Due to the pandemic we have all spent a lot less on luxury items so we are asking our colleagues and the general public, if they can, to divert a fraction of that saving to these workers who are already on the bread line. We are liaising with Edith Wilkins Street Children Foundation who have kindly offered to assist us in getting any money donated directly to the workers in Bangladesh.