Halim is asking the court to award him compensatory damages including, but not limited to, an amount equal to the average work hours paid to non-Bangladeshi employees during the term of his employment contract.
He is also asking for a declaratory relief for Taro Sue’s discriminatory employment practices; back wages; costs and attorney fees, if applicable; and other relief.
In its response, Taro Sue said Halim’s employment contract was not terminated.
“It was not renew[ed], but not because he is a Bangladeshi,” the company said, adding that it still employs a Bangladeshi.
“The criteria that we looked into in not renewing [Halim’s] contract are based on his skills and ability, not on his national origin,” Taro Sue said.
It added that it is in the process of evaluating the performance and skills of its employees to eliminate duplicative positions.
Halim said he started working as maintenance worker at Taro Sue in Sept. 2002.
“On information and belief, Filipino employees were given preferential work schedule by [Taro Sue] and easy access to the management unlike Bangladeshi employees,” Halim said.
He added that his supervisor, a non-Bangladeshi, often teased him during work hours about his work performance, and “denied Halim equal benefits given to the Filipino employees.”
Halim said his former employer informed him, one month before its expiration, that his contract would no longer be renewed.
