Lessons should be learned from the post Rana Plaza disaster. In addition, trade union and civil society leaders and representatives of government and private institutions called for making other workplaces safer by utilizing the success of multifaceted cooperation and compliance at the national and international levels.
These things were said in a discussion titled ‘Achievements and Challenges of Creating Safe Workplaces: Experiences of Post-Rana Plaza Initiatives’ organized by Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS) of National Press Club on Tuesday (April 23).
Speakers in the discussion meeting said that the initiative taken to ensure safety in the clothing sector in exchange for the sacrifice of the workers killed, has turned around the garment industry of Bangladesh. The main aim of all parties to sustain this initiative is to adopt a truly united labor movement and an up-to-date program under the national program under the leadership of that labor movement. Besides, industrial relations should be developed by ensuring the rights of workers by empowering trade unions.
The present speakers also said that the fire service should be made capable of dealing with disasters by ensuring its modernization and increasing the staff. In addition to this, the experience from the disaster should be used to deal with the disaster in the future. Apart from this, they also emphasized on providing services to the affected workers through the development of Employment Injury Scheme. The speakers also suggested to create volunteers from within the trade unions to apply the education and training received from home and abroad in disaster management.
Shahriar Alam, treating the injured workers of the garment sector, said, while treating the victims of the garment industry, it is seen that most of the injured workers say, what is the use of treatment? We can’t work. Although these injured workers are treated, there is no real rehabilitation.
Aminul Islam, senior advisor of GIZ, said that special attention should not be paid only to the ready-made garment sector. The more industries there are in the country, the government should increase its monitoring. Otherwise, it is not possible to reduce accidents at work.
Mahfuzur Rahman Bhuiyan, Joint Inspector General of National Occupational Health and Safety Research and Training Institute said, Rana Plaza accident has changed people’s mindset a lot. A worker who goes to work healthy should return home healthy. Our main point is to ensure that there is secure employment in all sectors including the RMG sector.
Bills chairman Habibur Rahman Siraj said in the president’s speech that Bills is not a political and trade union organization. Bills act as a catalyst to further strengthen the national trade union organizations of Bangladesh. The movement that took place in Bangladesh through the formation of Workers’ Employees Union Parishad – resulted in the fall of the government. Even in the coming days, if the activities of this labor union union council return to its former youth, if they take up their activities – then they will get all kinds of support from Bills.
