Trade unionist, Zotiakobanjinina Fanja Marcel Sento was sentenced to 12 months in prison with a fine of US$92 (MGA400,000), an amount that represents approximately 75 per cent of the average monthly salary in Madagascar, for a social media post reporting on union elections, the poor food quality at the company, as well as workers’ rights to holidays and sick leave. The company E-Toile S.A., part of Alsico Group, where Sento had been working for six years, accused the trade unionist of “publishing his views without the authority of the company”.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) wrote to the President of Madagascar demanding Sento´s release, stating, “the arrest and detention of Mr. Sento for exercising his trade union rights is contrary to Madagascar’s obligations under ILO Convention 87 and the principles of freedom of association of the ILO. He must be released immediately, and all charges dropped."

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Alsico Group to respond to the arrest, sentencing, and imprisonment of Mr. Sento Chang. Its responses are available below alongside with rejoinders received from IndustriALL, a global union federation representing workers in the mining, manufacturing and energy sectors, including the Malagasy textile and garment sector.