The International Labour Organization (ILO) has made an official proposal to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) regarding an employment injury insurance scheme in the country’s readymade garment sector. On Sunday, ILO’s Bangladesh representatives led by the organisation’s Country Director Tuomo Poutiainen came to meet the new board of BGMEA where they discussed the insurance scheme, read a press release issued by BGMEA. The ILO seeks to create a scheme involving employers, workers, the government and buyers where all parties will deposit a certain amount of money as insurance. A committee comprising all parties will oversee the process. Since there is a central database of garment workers, even if a worker moves from one factory to another, there will be no problem with their scheme and the monthly premium will be paid from the worker’s current factory, says ILO. If a worker has an accident, they will apply on behalf of the factory where they are currently employed, added the organisation. BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said, “We have to check how much the workers will benefit from the insurance scheme. That’s why pilot projects can be a good place to start. If the pilot project is successful then we will implement the scheme.” BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali said, “Our government signed an agreement with the German government and the ILO on the implementation of accident insurance. We will now form a committee under the Ministry of Labour involving representatives of all parties including the government and ILO. The committee will decide how to implement the scheme.” BGMEA Directors Barrister Shehrin Salam Oishee, Asif Ashraf, and senior ILO officials were present during the occasion.
