A fund set up to compensate the victims of the Rana plaza factory collapse has finally reached its 30-million target, the UN’s international labor organization (ILO) said this week, report agencies. With all the funding now secured, the last families still awaiting a payout will receive their money “In The Coming Weeks”, said the ILO, which chairs the Rana Plaza coordination committee. The committee, which was established in 2013 and represents all industry stakeholders, had estimated it would need 30 million (26.5 million euros) to fully and fairly compensate the families of the over 1,100 garment workers who died and some 1,500 others who were injured in the country’s worst ever industrial accident. By April 24, on the second anniversary of the disaster, the committee had raised 27 million and was able to pay compensation to 70 percent of the more than 2,800 claimants, the ILO said in a statement. “Further donations, including one significant sum pledged late last week meant that 30m had now been reached and all payments can be made,” it added. The development was welcomed by ILO director-general Guy Ryder. “This is a milestone but we still have important business to deal with,” he was quoted as saying in the statement. “We must now work together to ensure that accidents can be prevented in future, and that a robust national employment injury insurance scheme is established so that victims of any future accidents will be swiftly and justly compensated and cared for.” A host of western retailers had clothing made at Rana plaza, including Italy’s benetton, Spain’s mango and the British low-cost chain Primark. all three were among a number of international brands that contributed to the compensation fund. Earlier on June 9, 2015 The Rana Plaza Coordination Committee said it has raised the entire amount of $30 million needed to compensate all the victims of the building collapse. The payments will be cleared in the next few weeks, the panel, which was formed to raise and disburse the compensation, said in a statement. The committee that represents all industry stakeholders had estimated that at least $30 million was required to ensure fair and equitable compensations for all victims. In January 2014, the ILO also established the Rana Plaza Donor Trust Fund to support the committee’s efforts to finance the compensation scheme. Bangladesh does not yet have a national employment injury insurance scheme to protect victims of accidents at work although the ILO is now working with the government, employers’ and workers’ organisations, donors and industry partners to establish one. In this context, the full implementation of the Rana Plaza arrangement within a two-year period represents a very significant step forward, Ryder said. “Two years have gone and the victims and their families have not got their compensation, so they are anxious the brands and buyers pay their contribution. That’s why all the union groups are seriously annoyed,” said Kamrul Anam of the IndustriALL Bangladesh Council. “Families are seriously suffering because they have no earning source. Minors and babies need money for schooling and they are not able to join and earn money,” he said. Taherul Islam, of the Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE), said there have been some improvements in working conditions since the disaster, including the legally binding agreement of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety by brands and trade unions. “The Accord Alliance is trying to find local shortcomings in the buildings, for fire safety. But many issues related to health and safety remain,” he said, urging western companies that use suppliers from Bangladesh to press for better conditions. Support programmes have been set up by national and some international NGOs to provide survivors with vocational training and give their children educational support, but disorganisation between various initiatives is a cause of confusion and frustration among some workers, said Islam. Twenty victims have been invited to a face-to-face consultation with stakeholders at a meeting on Wednesday organised by OSHE to try to clarify the status of compensation and rehabilitation for survivors. A temporary hammer-and-sickle statue has been erected on the disaster site, but Islam dismissed this as the work of far-left groups and said he hoped a different, permanent monument could soon be built. The clothing industry in Bangladesh is second only to China’s in size and ready-made garments account for 78 per cent of the country’s exports. Around four million people are employed in the industry in around 3,500 factories. Fashion Revolution, a global campaign demanding more transparency in the fashion industry, is encouraging consumers to ask retailers where their clothes are made and is organising protest events in 68 countries on 24 April. Planned events in Bangladesh include a photo project of women workers and a “Trace my Fashion” QR code project in partnership with fashion and management students. “Instead of pointing out the negatives, I’d rather work actively towards improving the [clothing] industry, because it’s not going away anywhere,” said Nawshin Khair, Fashion Revolution country coordinator for Bangladesh. “I would rather concentrate on ensuring the right opportunities are given to university students to join the management sector, because they are the future of Bangladesh and right now mid-tier and top-tier jobs in this billion dollar industry are only offered to foreigners because they have the training and know-how,” she said.
