The Malian “Independiente” reported on March 2, 2022 that the Malian Textile Development Company (CMDT) was once again sued by previously dismissed workers, demanding payment of 6.2 billion Spanish francs (approximately 1057 million) severance compensation. In 2003, according to the structural adjustment plan of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, Mali Textile Development Company laid off 596 employees. The laid-off personnel were regarded as voluntary retirements and should be compensated in accordance with the agreement reached by both parties. However, groups of laid-off workers said that the company did not fully comply with the agreement. For example, the calculation basis of compensation should be the entire income of employees, including basic salary and all benefits, and the fired personnel should receive income compensation for the next three years. However, the company This was not implemented, and the unpaid expenses totaled 3.856 billion Spanish francs, which the company also expressed its approval. In addition, the company’s leadership also promised to use 5% of the dismissal compensation to purchase company shares for laid-off employees. In fact, the relevant expenses were misappropriated for other purposes, resulting in a loss of 2.373 billion Spanish francs to the laid-off employees, and the two payments totaled 6.2 billion Spanish francs. Lang. Groups of laid-off workers have filed lawsuits in court many times over the past 20 years, but have not won. In January 2022, the group once again submitted a lawsuit against the company for misappropriation of public funds to the Economic Case Center. It is hoped that after the military government comes to power, it will pay more attention to the interests of workers and help resolve this nearly 20-year dispute.
The Mali Textile Development Company is a state-owned enterprise established in 1974 and is responsible for managing all cotton production and sales in Mali. The French-owned company Southern Agricultural Processing Development Company (DAGRIS) holds about 40% of the company’s shares.
