In a recent interview, Labor Reform Commission Chairman Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed emphasized the need to extend improved safety standards beyond Bangladesh’s garment sector to other industrial sectors. Following the catastrophic Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, which claimed 1,139 lives, significant safety reforms were implemented in the ready-made garment (RMG) industry. These improvements were largely driven by initiatives like the Accord on Fire and Building Safety and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, which were introduced by European and North American clothing brands, respectively.
However, Ahmed stressed that safety should have been prioritized from the start to prevent such disasters. While progress has been made in the RMG sector, other industries still lag behind. A major concern is the inadequate compensation for industrial accidents, which currently stands at just Tk 2 lakh. Additionally, Ahmed highlighted the lack of long-term support for Rana Plaza victims, including treatment, rehabilitation, and welfare measures.
Three key recommendations:
First, to make the Rana Plaza investigation report public and take action accordingly; second, to replicate the Accord and Alliance safety models in other industrial sectors; and third, to strengthen governance and create a culture where workers feel safe to voice safety concerns. He emphasized that empowering workers could have saved lives, as many Rana Plaza workers were unable to speak up before the collapse.
He also criticized local authorities, including the UNO of Savar, for failing to ensure safety compliance. Ahmed called for the ratification of ILO Convention 121, which guarantees compensation based on the loss of future earnings due to industrial accidents.
While the number of safety committees has increased significantly—reaching 5,959 in 2022–23, with over 2,600 in non-RMG sectors—Ahmed warned that many exist only to satisfy legal or buyer requirements, lacking real impact.
Comment here