Japan government has taken an initiative to make vulnerable building of the country’s garments factories safe for the RMG workers through conducting retrofitting, a technology to make vulnerable building jolt resistant, reports BSS. “Japanese technology and experience to make building earthquake resistance can help Bangladesh to strengthen its vulnerable RMG buildings for avoiding any tragic incident like Rana plaza in future,” Senior Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Hiroyuki Tomita said at a seminar in the capital yesterday. The Project Capacity Development of Natural Disaster Resistant techniques of Construction and Retrofitting for Public Buildings (CNCRP), implemented by Public Works Department (PWD) with technical support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) organised the seminar titled “Development of Safer Building Overcoming the Tragedy of Rana Plaza Incident”. Under CNCRP, a team of Japanese experts has been transferring retrofitting technology to the engineers of PWD and other public and private organisations since 2011. Retrofitting is a technology that could be used to make a vulnerable building earthquake resistant without demolishing it. The JICA High official said the Japanese experts have already started their work to do retrofit to two RMG factories initially and the JICA will implement a large project soon to cover more vulnerable RMG buildings of the country. In a presentation JICA’s Assistant Programme Officer Kaniz Fatema said after tragic incident of Rana plaza, JICA took a programme titled “RMG Sector Safe Environment Project” and created a Tk 100 crore fund with the Bangladesh Bank for financing the RMG owners to make their building safe for the workers. Under the programme, JICA requested the RMG owners to assess their factories building as well as to take the opportunity of the provided JICA fund to make the building strengthen. As per the JICA’s call a total of 300 RMG factories applied for being assessed and of these factories, 214 were selected for the assessment by the CNCRP. Of the 214 RMG factories, we found 74 per cent have no legal construction permit or structural drawing, Kaniz said adding, even 65 per cent of the buildings, those have legal permit documents and structural drawing, do not comply standard set by Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC). The CNCRP project selected two factories and taken initiative to conduct retrofitting by providing the owners soft loan of 850,000 and 600,000 US dollar respectively. “If we only consider to do retrofit to only those 26 per cent of the country’s total RMG factories that have legal construction permit and structural design, it will need 1.17 billion US dollar,” she said.

Source: https://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=256015:japan-to-make-earthquake-resistant-rmg-units&catid=110:business-others&Itemid=156

About fifty workers were injured at a factory in Savar as they tried to hurriedly leave the building during yesterday’s earthquake. Several vehicles were also vandalised on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway and the road was blocked for some time by locals after the workers were allegedly obstructed from leaving the compound by security men. Police later fired bullets and tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. SM Kamruzzaman, officer in-charge (OC) of Savar Police told The Independent that some workers were injured while getting off hurriedly from the ten-storied factory building of Al-Muslim group. But no one died in the incident. An eyewitness told The Independent that the Al-Muslim Group factory at Kornopara in Ulail shook during yesterday’s earthquake at noon. As workers panicked and tried to leave the factory, security personnel obstructed them from leaving the factory building. Shamsul Haque, a labour union leader, alleged that the factory authorities did not give proper attention to the injured workers and confined him and seized his mobile phone which he had used to record a video of the injured persons. The security in-charge of the factory said he was unable to give any details. No official of the factory was found to comment on the incident. Workers said they tried to escape from the factory as the earthquake shook the building. But security officials did not allow them to leave. The workers then got engaged in an altercation with security guards and several female workers got hurt as panic-stricken workers rushed. Later, some workers broke the main entrance of the factory. They also threw brick chips and stones at factory officials. A man who came there looking for his wife, a worker at the factory, received bullet injury during the clash, said workers union leader Shamsul. Rabiul Al-Amin of Savar Fire Service and Civil Defence said, “We did not get any information about casualties. The ten storied building of Al-Muslim Group has adequate fire fighting and earthquake emergency evacuation measures.” About 18,000 workers, mostly female, are employed by AKM Knit Wear, Pacific Blue Jeans Wear, Al-Muslim Washing, Al-Muslim Garments Accessories, Al-Muslim Yarn Dyeing and Al-Muslim Builders Limited, housed in that 10-storied building. Dr. Anwarul Quader of Enam Medical College Hospital said about 50 workers were admitted to the hospital, but no one was seriously hurt.

Source: https://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=256081:50-rmg-workers-hurt-while-leaving-building&catid=135:metropolitan-dhaka&Itemid=174

The labour ministry has failed to introduce fair price card for garment workers due to delay in approving a proposal by the finance ministry.This despite the fact that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had made the announcement during a visit to the ministry of labour and employment last year. After receiving a proposal from the labour ministry, the finance ministry asked it to identify the garment workers and take the opinion of the factory owners on the proposed fair price card, sources in the labour ministry said. The labour ministry sought subsidy to introduce the card for about 40 lakh apparel workers, 80 per cent of whom are women, the sources added. Under the fair price card, the labour ministry proposed to give rice at Tk. 24 per kg, flour at Tk. 22, edible oil at Tk. 55.50, sugar at Tk. 4 and lentil (masur dal) at Tk. 103 per kg to low-income workers of the export-oriented readymade garment factories. State minister for labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu told The Independent that the factory owners refused to provide fair price cards unless the government provided the required quantity of food grain. The state minister said they are planning to assess the quantity of food grain and other essentials required by a worker under the fair price card in a month. “We will also prepare a list of workers in the export-oriented garment factories for introducing the fair price card,” he added. Chunnu said they have held talks with the food ministry and it has asked them to send a “concrete proposal” to implement the government’s plan soon. The factory owners have accepted the fair price card system, but said it should be implemented under government management, he added.

Source: https://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=256025:ministry-fails-to-introduce-fair-price-card-for-apparel-workers&catid=132:backpage&Itemid=122

Victims of the Rana Plaza collapse have been paid 70 per cent of the $16.4 million or Tk 1.26 billion aid funds while the Trust Fund seeks $3.0 million more to dole out. A spokesman said Saturday the total amount the Rana Plaza Trust Fund stood at $27 million, including the payments received from the Prime Minister’s Office and foreign retailer Primark. The amount is inclusive of a latest commitment of $3 million in contribution to the fund. However, he said, there is still a shortage of $3.0 million from the estimated requirement of $30 million to compensate the victims and their families. “Good news is that we have got commitment of getting more $3.0 million,” Executive Commissioner of the Rana Plaza Claims Administration (RPCA) Dr Mojtaba Kazazi said, without naming the contributors. Mr Kazazi was addressing a press briefing in the city a day after the second anniversary of the tragedy in which at least 1,138 people, mostly garment workers, were killed and many maimed for life. Two other commissioners — Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Sultana Kamal — were also present. So far, the amounts either received in the Trust Fund or spent otherwise for the benefit of the workers came approximately to $24 million. It also includes the payments made by the Prime Minister’s Office and the global brand Primark. From the PMO, some $2.4 million has so far been disbursed while Primark has committed to pay $6.3 million to the 600 workers of New Wave Bottom that made apparels for the buyer. The brand has also committed $1.0 million directly to the Trust Fund. “Some Tk 760 million, equivalent to $9.85 million, has so far been paid to Rana Plaza injured workers, dependants of the deceased and the missing people direct from the Trust Fund,” Mr Kazazi said. The amount is 70 per cent of the total awards approved by the Commissioners, after deduction of amounts paid to the injured and families of the deceased and missing workers from the Prime Minister Welfare Fund and initial payment of Tk 50,000 each from the Trust Fund. The total amount for all issued awards is approximately Tk 1.26 billion (Tk 126 crore) or $16.4 million, he said, adding that the paid-out $9.85 million is 70 per cent of the total $16.4 million. The payments were made in several phases: 40 per cent of the total payments had been made in five separate instalments since September till December 2014 and the rest 30 per cent on April 8 last. “The remaining 30 per cent of awards will be paid to the claimants as soon as funds become available at the Trust Fund,” he said. The compensation to the beneficiaries is calculated on the basis of ILO convention 121. A total of 2,871 claims have been received from the injured workers and dependants of the deceased and the missing. Out of them, 2,839 claims have been reviewed by the RPCA, approved by the Commissioners and authorized by the Rana Plaza Coordination Committee. The remaining 32 claims with some 20-30 additional deceased claims that may yet be filed will be included in the final instalment.

Source: https://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/26/90312

Bangladesh, which is often associated with hazardous working conditions and disasters in garment factories, will reach a milestone next month when it introduces the world’s highest rated green knitwear factory.Located in Narayanganj, 20 kilometres south from the capital, Plummy Fashions has already started trial operation with 500 workers.It will go into full production in mid-May, by which time it will receive the US Green Building Council’s ‘LEED Platinum’ certification.Once awarded, Plummy Fashions would be the first knitwear factory in the world to have the platinum certification, according to its Managing Director Fazlul Hoque.He said his environmentally-sound knit apparel manufacturing unit would receive the certification as it has met all requirements. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a rating system that reviews a factory’s green initiatives such as site development, energy and water conservation, materials selection and indoor environmental conditions. To get a LEED Platinum certification, one company must score 80 out of the available 110 points.Hoque said his factory would score 93. “No garment factory has received this high a score in the world,” he told The Daily Star.The two-storied manufacturing unit is situated on a campus of 5.5 acres of land, 50 percent of which are open areas with lush greenery. Its six reservoirs will store around six lakh litres of rainwater and use it for washroom flushing.The installed water fixtures will economise water consumption by up to 60 percent. The system will allow only 1.5 litres of water for use per minute, instead of 6 to 8 litres under the traditional system.The factory is highly energy-efficient. It has designed the windows and louvres in such a way that it can use the maximum daylight, a move that will help save 70kw power on a sunny day. The 65kw solar panels set up on the rooftop of the factory will provide 13 percent of the plant’s total power requirement of 500kw.Work on the first floor will be carried out in sunlight, saving 70kw of electricity. LED bulbs are programmed to be switched on automatically under light deficiency or gloomy sky. It also has an effluent treatment plant.The building, which has been made with pre-fabricated steel, has 10 emergency exit points and is equipped with a high-quality fire-fighting system and more than 250 smoke- and heat-detecting devices.Other than the rainwater harvesting system, the campus also has bicycle sheds, housing for workers, schools, markets, bus or tempo stands and latest technology-based electricity-efficient auto-cleaning knit machines.The factory has child care, health care, recreation and training facilities as well.It also has a showering facility for its perspiring workers — a provision unthinkable in the country’s garment factories.By next month, 1,500 workers will work in a neat and clean environment within 28 degree Celsius temperature under complete air conditioning. “Plummy Fashions may be considered a model for knit garment factories at home and abroad,” said Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman during a visit to the factory yesterday.The factory with a capacity to produce nearly one million pieces of garment a month cost Tk 80 crore, with financing from IFIC Bank, which is partly backed by the central bank under its green banking initiative. The sum, however, does not include the cost for the land, which already belonged to Hoque.“I am very proud of the project. But I will be happy if others come forward and set up factories that are green and take all safety issues into consideration,” said Hoque, also a former president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.“This way, we will be able to overcome the image crisis the disasters of Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions Fire have slapped on us.”Hoque, who is currently in talks with Marks & Spencer, C&A, Esprit and Li & Fung about orders, is also aware of the challenges lying ahead.“To make this type of initiative a success, buyers have to come forward by providing better prices. If they raise the prices even by a small amount, it would be a huge boost in ensuring factory safety in the country.”“And it is in the best interests of the buyers. Instead of coming under pressure after disasters like Rana Plaza, they should be proactive and support initiatives like this,” said Hoque, also a former president of Bangladesh Employers Federation.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/plummy-fashions-beacon-among-green-factories-79284

Rana Plaza Trust Fund received $3 million in contribution yesterday from retailers and different organisations, taking the total fund to $27 million.The fund came as the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy was observed, Mojtaba Kazazi, executive commissioner of the Rana Plaza Claims Administration (RPCA), said at a media briefing in Dhaka.“We are now only $3 million short of the $30 million trust fund target. I hope we will receive the remaining fund soon,” Kazazi said.He however, could not immediately disclose names of the retailers and brands which paid to the fund yesterday.The building collapse claimed at least 1,135 lives, and injured twice the number, many of them for life.The officials of RPCA, the temporary office for determining and disbursement of the victims’ compensations, said they have settled nearly 2,839 out of 2,871 claims from the $27 million that includes $2.4 million donations from the Prime Minister’s Office. The claims administration office has disbursed $9.85 million to the victims so far.The remaining 32 claims plus approximately 20-30 additional deceased claims that may still be filed will be included in the final instalment.After the Rana Plaza collapse, Primark paid $7 million in compensation to about 600 workers of its supplier New Wave Bottom separately, a garment factory that was housed on the fifth floor of the building.Although the $7 million contribution by the Primark was calculated in the $27 million trust fund, the nearly 600 workers were not as the British retailer paid them separately.Since the workers of New Wave Bottoms received separate funds, they are not entitled to claims from the main fund.“We have disbursed money through more than 5,000 banks accounts as one victim has more than two or three claimants,” Kazazi said.The amount of compensation has been fixed considering the gravity of the injuries of the victims, said Sultana Kamal, another commissioner of the RPCA.“We mainly focused on the victims’ children and their needs while determining appropriate compensations,” said former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque, who is also the national commissioner of the RPCA.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/rana-plaza-trust-gets-3m-more-79283

The second anniversary of the deadly Rana Plaza collapse in Savar passed off on Friday amid demonstrations by the victims’ families for compensation. People reminisced about the tragic incident when local and international organisations expressed concern over the meager of workplace rights in Bangladesh. On April 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza building which housed five garment factories caved in, killing over 1,100 workers and maiming several thousand others. The accident took place due to allegedly fault in the construction of the building and poor construction materials. Although the government, BGMEA, other organisations and stakeholders at home and abroad promised to compensate the victims, such assurances were not fully fulfilled. The family members of the victims formed a human chain and chanted slogans in front of the collapsed complex site in Savar on the outskirts of the capital on Friday, demanding their compensation. The Transparency International Bangladesh recently alleged that the government fund of Tk 108 crore remained unused. Meanwhile, the European Union raised concern over inadequate RMG workplace safety in Bangladesh. The European Union also cautioned of revisiting its duty-free quota for Bangladesh if poor workplace safety for workers continues in the country. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström told a programme on Wednesday said, “Another tragedy or even just the continuation of today’s poor working condition could force the EU to revisit everything But Arms (EBA).” Addressing a conference titled “Remembering Rana Plaza: What Next” at the European Parliament in Brussels, she issued the above caution. “We’re here today to remember the Rana Plaza building. Remembrance has a double purpose. We do it to show our respect for victims, survivors and their families,” she added. On the other hand, Human Rights Watch alleged that Rana Plaza victims were not compensated adequately. An HRW report published on April 22 said survivors of the workplace disaster have reportedly not received adequate compensation two years into the incident although many retailers paid into the Rana Plaza compensation fund. It referred to the promise and contribution of various organisations to the compensation fund, saying only $21 million of $30 million needed to compensate the survivors had been paid or pledged to the fund, with the British company Primark giving $14 million as of March. The HRW further said 15 of the retailers whose labels were found in the Rana Plaza rubble are yet to contribute to the compensation fund.

Source: https://www.daily-sun.com/print/front-page/2015/04/25/499858#sthash.wFhccpF6.dpuf

Miscreants have raped a garment factory worker after holding her husband and a relative hostage at Narayanganj’s Bandar Upazila, reorts bdnews24.com. Police arrested two persons for their alleged link to the incident that occurred on Thursday night. The arrestees are ‘Jewel’, 22, and ‘Ramzan’, 23, from Rupali Residential Area. Bandar Police Station OC Nazrul Islam said the victim from Narayanganj city’s Khanpur area went to visit her aunt at Bandar Upazila’s Ekrampur area with her husband and a relative. He said seven-eight miscreants, including Jewel and Ramzan, waylaid the three using sharp weapons in Kheyaghat area when they were returning around 9pm. They took them to a nearby under-construction building. They tied the victim’s husband and the relative who helplessly watched the victim being raped, OC Islam said. Locals came to the spot hearing cry of the victim and rescued them. The OC said another relative of the victim filed a case on Thursday night. Police later arrested Jewel and Ramzan with the help of locals, he added.

Source: https://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=2409397&date=2015-04-25

Exactly two years ago on this day, over 1,100 people lost their lives and more than 2500 were injured when Raza Plaza, a nine-storey garments factory building, collapsed at Savar, reports BSS. Different workers’ organisations observed the day on Friday amid various programmes. Relatives of those, who lost their lives in the building collapse, placed wreaths in front of Rana Plaza. The workers’ organisations demanded capital punishment to those who were responsible for the collapse. A photo exhibition is also organised in memory of the late workers. UNB adds: The European Union (EU) and the United States (US) in a joint statement on Friday said they will continue to work together with Bangladesh for ensuring the economic growth and sustainable development of Bangladesh and go hand-in-hand with efforts to improve workers’ safety and rights as well. “Our commitment to Bangladesh is strong and enduring,” said the joint statement, issued on the 2nd anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh. US Secretary of State John Kerry; High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini; US Secretary of Labor Thomas E Perez; EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Marianne Thyssen; US Trade Representative Michael Froman; EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström; US Agency for International Development Acting Administrator Alfonso E Lenhardt; and EU Commissioner in charge of International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica signed the statement. They urge the government to formulate the rules under the Bangladesh Labour Act 2013 without further delays. “Similarly, we call upon the government of Bangladesh to enact legislation on economic processing zones that ensures workers inside the zones enjoy rights commensurate with those outside the zones,” said the statement. Also of pressing concern, the government should respond swiftly to cases of unfair labour practices, violence, and harassment against trade unions and workers’ representatives, it said. “We note that advances in health, safety, and labour rights will remain fragile and impermanent if workers are unable to exercise those rights and organize to represent their interests and concerns,” it said. Appreciating the progress made so far, the statement, however, said significant work remains to be done under the Sustainability Compact to realize its goals. “In particular, we encourage and support the government of Bangladesh’ s efforts to continue reforming its labor laws, in close consultations with the ILO, complete the safety inspections of all RMG factories and continue to register unions in a timely and transparent way,” it said. On the aftermath of the Rana Plaza collapse, the European Union, the United States and the International Labor Organization (ILO) came up with assistance to Bangladesh to undertake a series of significant commitments to foster respect for fundamental labour rights and ensure workers’ safety and health in the garment sector. The partners announced the Sustainability Compact for Bangladesh – a statement of principles and commitments designed to bring about a lasting transformation in the sector. The tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza building claimed over 1,140 lives and injured many more.

Source: https://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=2409406&date=2015-04-25

The High Court is scheduled for Sunday to hear a committee report that proposed Tk 14.51 lakh and Tk 1.5 lakh as the highest and lowest compensation for victims of Rana Plaza collapse. The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Abdur Rob on April 20 posted for Sunday its order on the report after the Supreme Court registrar’s office placed the report before the bench. The committee headed by General Officer Commanding of the Nine Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army stationed in Savar, formed in accordance with an order suo moto issued by the bench on April 30, 2013, submitted the report to the registrar’s office on January 23, 2014, making 16-point recommends on compensations. The committee recommended Tk 14.51 lakh as compensation for each of the workers died or went missing or became permanently disabled in the collapse of the nine-storey building, which housed five apparel factories, on April 24, 2013. It recommended that Tk 7.50 lakh should be paid for each of the workers who lost one limb, Tk 4.50 lakh for each of the workers in need of long-term treatment and Tk 1.50 for each of the workers who became mentally imbalanced. The committee set the compensation for the killed or missing workers considering individual worker’s monthly wage of Tk 5,000 as ‘typical case’ [minimum standard case]. The amount of compensations for a deceased or missing worker was set considering Tk 25,000 for burial cost, Tk 60,000 as grant for once, Tk 1.80 lakh as welfare allowance (Tk 1,000 per month) up to 67 years of age or for 15 years, Tk 5 lakh for joint insurance fund and Tk 6 lakh for pension. The report said that 1,142 people died in the building collapse. Army could identify 261 of the 329 missing workers on the list prepared by district administration, said the report. It said that 189 workers were taking permanent treatments. The committee said that the money the victims received as donations from different individuals or institutions should not be adjusted to the proposed compensations, but the money they received from the Prime Minister’s Office or from the public authorities should be adjusted as compensations. In response to a call from prime minister Sheikh Hasina, government and non-government organisations, banks, insurance companies, schools, colleges and a good number of individuals, donated Tk 127.67 crore to her relief fund between April 29, 2013 and July 8, 2014, agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury told parliament on July 14, 2014. The report said that the compensation should be given at once, injured workers should get free treatment until recovery, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturuers and Exporters Association would make job arrangements for all workers who lost their jobs and capable to work. Donation, compensation and termination benefit have to be considered separately and all workers will be entitled to get termination benefit from respective employers, the report said. The committee said that the compensations should be collected from the Rana Plaza owner, the owners of factories, BGMEA, and foreign buyers. It set the amount of compensation that was opposed by BGMEA, which had asked the committee to lower the amount of compensation referring the labour law and the amount they had paid as compensation in cases of other accidents, including the fire at Tazreen Fashions in November 2012.

Source: https://newagebd.net/114519/hc-likely-to-hear-report-on-compensations-sunday/#sthash.T9xlbVwL.dpuf