Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has found ‘lack of transparency and dillydallying’ in disbursing the funds deposited for the Rana Plaza collapse victims. The country chapter of the Berlin-based international anti-graft watchdog came up with the findings while the second anniversary of the worst industrial disaster in the country is round the corner. “Two years after the incident, about Tk 1.08 billion, out of Tk 1.27 billion that was deposited with the prime minister’s fund as aid to the victims, is yet to be disbursed,” according to a TIB statement. “The persons accused of the industrial accidents in the country, including Tazreen fire and Rana Plaza collapse, did not come in to accountability. So the accidents are happening repeatedly,” said TIB Trustee Board Chairman Sultana Kamal. She was speaking at a press conference arranged in the capital on Tuesday to present its report titled ‘Steps taken to implement good governance in ready-made garment (RMG) sector: Progress in last one year’. TIB executive director (ED) Dr Iftekharuzzaman, deputy ED Dr Sumaiya Khair and director (research and policy) Mohammad Rafiqul Hasan were also present at the press meet. The research report was prepared by TIB programme manager Manzur-e-Khuda and assistant programme manager (research and policy) Nazmul Huda Mina. Reviewing 55 indicators in ongoing 80 initiatives for development of the sector, TIB said though the programmes achieved 60 per cent success, many areas did not achieve much in terms of labour rights, workplace safety and other benefits for the workers. TIB saw challenges in continuation of the achievements, as only 12 programmes were implemented, 12 went at a snail’s pace among ongoing 48 programmes, while 20 initiatives faced total stalemate. It recommended 10 points for removing alleged lackings in good governance in implementing the initiatives for development of the RMG sector. The recommendations include separate ministry for ensuring good governance in the export-oriented industry, formation of ‘public sector board’ comprising stakeholders for coordinated implementation process, and instituting a fund for ensuring compliance in sub-contracting and small factories and labour-welfare fund by taking 1 to 1.5 cents on each garment product from buyers and factory owners. TIB also called for forming workers’ database as soon as possible, creating coordinated listing of sub-contracting factories, strengthening capacity of the Department of Labour and Inspection of prevailing rights practice in labour organizations, asking buyers to expose names of their Bangladeshi partners on their websites, resolution of cases in connection with Rana Plaza and Tazreen disasters, and revelation of the names of victims of Rana Plaza and amount of compensation. The report said despite amendment of the labour law, some of its clauses are being used for “terrorizing” workers and depriving them of their rights. “Dillydallying in formulating regulations of the Labour Law, factories cannot make committees for health and safety,” it stated. Dr Iftekharuzzaman said though minimum wage is increased after the Rana Plaza collapse, the amounts of wages are not up to the mark of current living standard. “Not only that, many workers do not get their wages regularly,” he said. The watchdog found out that some officials in Labour Department informed owners before issuing registration to a trade union. They also allegedly take Tk 5,000-10,000 for issuing registration. Its report further pointed out that though there is a clause against giving workers after-hours work for more than two hours, a circular was issued to make them work four hours as additional duty. “Some factories also compel workers to work one hour extra without pay,” it added. The nine-storey Rana Plaza that housed a number of RMG factories collapsed on April 24, 2013, killing 1,138 people and injuring many others, mostly garment workers.
Source: https://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/22/89798
