Demonstrations staged in Bangladesh and elsewhere in world commemorating the second anniversary of Rana Plaza building collapse on Friday demanded the government and foreign retailers to compensate and rehabilitate the affected workers immediately. Labour leaders and affected workers and their families also urged the retailers to pay up the compensation they had promised for the Rana Plaza Donor Trust Fund. The victims and affected families expressed disappointment at the delayed investigation into the cases filed following the worst industrial disaster in the country’s history. They also called on the government to declare April 24 as a mourning day. According to Clean Clothes Campaign, the tragic day was remembered across the world, especially in Finland, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Australia, Spain, Italy, Pakistan and the United States. On April 24, 2013, the nine-storey Rana Plaza at Savar bus stop housing five apparel factories collapsed, leaving 1,137 people killed and several hundred injured and missing. Different local and international social, cultural and political organisations held rallies, formed human chains and brought out processions in front the site of the collapsed building at Savar and different places in Dhaka. Many demonstrators were seen parading with black flag. Addressing a rally at Savar, Gonoshasthaya Kendra found and trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury expressed disappointment at the delay investigations and trial of the cases. Garments Sramik Oikya Forum president Moshrefa Mishu urged the government for quick disposal of the cases against the building owners and factory owners. Krishak Samity leader Kazi Firoz, addressing another rally, raised question about the Tk 127 crore unused fund of the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Rana Plaza victims. He demanded transparent disbursement of the fund. Tearful and angry survivors of Rana Plaza disaster and families of the deceased and missing workers gathered around the site. Local administration, police officials and the labour leaders placed floral wreaths at the memorial installed following the collapse and another makeshift platform installed for the day. Parents of 20-year-old Phantom Tac’s ironman Fazle Rabbi were seen praying for their deceased son while many families of missing workers, including Runa Akhter’s mother Hosna Begum, were seen wailing in front of some human remains, they found at the site on Friday, and repeatedly calling for finding out their near and dear ones. Many victims were seen approaching to journalists or rights activists with many complaints including not getting dude compensation and proper treatment. Injured female worker Sabina Akhter alleged that the Rana Plaza Claims Administration in a later stated that she received a total Tk 94,486, but she received Tk 66,000. Another worker Fatema Akhter alleged that she was able to work as she was still suffering from pains in the head and waist. Many victim families visited Jurain Graveyard in the capital to offer prayer for their beloved ones. Puffed rice seller Liakat Ali Sheikh came from Gopalganj was looking for grave-56 where his daughter Rafiza, one of the victims, was buried unidentified. As no plaque reading grave-56 was found, he sat on the walkway by the side of the grave-156 and began wailing. Liakat left the graveyard offering a prayer for all the departed souls as he could not identify his daughter’s grave. Bangladesh Garment Shramik Sanghati arranged a photography and cartoon exhibition near the Rana Plaza site while Bangladesh Progressive Garments Workers Federation held a rally and put forth a set of demands including publishing a complete list of deceased, injured and missing workers. Workers were seen chanting ‘Mango [a western brand], Pay Up,’ ‘Wall-mart, Pay Up,’ ‘Benetton, Pay Up,’ and ‘Government, Pay Up’ in front of the site of the collapsed building. Some international labour rights activists were also seen there. ‘We are here to hear the Rana Plaza victims and investigate why they have not yet received the compensation they need,’ said International Labour Rights Forum executive director Judy Gearhart. ‘Many brands do not acknowledge their accountabilities…There are so much works to do,’ the campaigner told New Age while attending a protest rally at Savar. About the investigation and trial processes, she said, ‘It is tremendous injustice…there should be a charge of manslaughter.’ ‘For two years now…Victims mustn’t wait any longer to be adequately compensated,’ Karim Lahijdi, the president of the International Federation for Human Rights said in a statement. The Asian Legal Resource Centre and Odhikar recalled the incident with deep sorrow while National Garment Workers Federation, among others, held a human chain in front of National Press Club demanding immediate paying up of due compensation.

Source: https://newagebd.net/114517/rana-plaza-collapse-2nd-anniversary-commemorated-with-pains/#sthash.r1QkJhrl.dpuf

Relatives of the Rana Plaza victims and members of various social and workers’ bodies gather at the collapsed building site in Savar yesterday on the second anniversary of the tragedy that left at least 1,129 people dead. Related picture on page 2. Independent PhotoMorium Akter, wife of missing victim Raja Miah in Rana Plaza collapse incident, the world largest industrial disaster, were crying inconsolably beside the debris on the second anniversary of the tragedy. And, her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Rani Akter was completely silent seeing her beloved mother crying. When The Independent correspondent tried to talk to her about her missing husband, she became even more emotional to recall her husband Raja. Raja, hailing from Zadutokhani village under Gaibandha district, was working at a readymade garment factory located on the fourth floor of Rana Plaza. Morium also worked with him, but she gave up her job before the birth of her baby. Recalling her last conversation with her husband around 7:30am on April 24 in 2013, she said, “On hearing the news of cracks surfacing in Rana Plaza the day before it collapsed, I requested my husband not to go to for work before the cracks are repaired.” Raja had also decided not to go but suddenly he received a phone call and he left for work. “I have to going because if I become absent from work, the salary of the month would be deducted,” Morium recalled her husband as saying. “After the birth of our daughter, he had become very economical due to the increasing cost incurring on the upbringing of our child…he even gave up smoking. He always told me that from now, we shall save money for Rani, so that we do not face difficulty at the time of her marriage, he would say.” The two dreamt for good education of their daughter, so that she does have to work as a garment worker in future. “But all our dreams perished under the Rana Plaza,” she said with a sob. Describing her tireless search for the body of Raja Miah, she said, “His family members gave the DNA samples several times, but they are yet to identify the body.” ‘‘Though there is no chance of getting his body, I came to the devastated Rana Plaza only to get a feel of being around my deceased husband,” she could barely utter. About her present life, she said, “Currently I am running a small tailoring shop at my house. I cannot join any job due to my little baby.” Similar is the tale of many other kin of the collapse victim. Rabia Begum, daughter of Abdur Rahman, hailing from Islampur Upazila in Jamalpur district, has also been missing. Her mother, Tomiron Begum, also came to the collapse site. Halima Akter, mother of missing victim Shilpi Akter, hailing from Doulotpur Upazila in Manikganj, came along with Arman Hossain and Lukcy Akter, two orphan children of the deceased RMG worker. Nuron Nahar and her husband Amir Ali came remembering their beloved missing daughter Farza Akter. Bithi Khatun, daughter of Abdul Bari, hailing from Vangamour village under Sadullahpur Upazila in Gaibandha district is also missing to date. Bari claimed that he neither got her body nor get any financial assistance from the government and voluntary organisations. “But I am not unhappy for that…I just want to identify the body of my beloved daughter Bithi, for whom my family has been waiting for two years.” Her mother Anjuara Begum also got bed-ridden to hear the tragic death of their young daughter, he said. Sajeda Begum, mother of Khaleda Akter, another victim, was seen madly crying holding in her hand a photo of hers. ‘‘Give me my daughter, I don’t need your help…I just want to wash and bury my daughter with my hands,” said Sajeda Begum, hailing from Gangarampur village of Muksudpur Upazila Gopalganj district, who is looking for her daughter for two years. Khaleda was working in Phantom Apparels on the third floor. “I gave DNA samples several times for the test, but my daughter remains untraced,” she lamented. As a result, she has not yet received any assistance as the kin of a Rana Plaza victim. Like her, Meheran Begum, mother of missing victim Babu Mia, came from Nagarpur Upazila in Tangail. “Whenever I hear the news of finding any skeletons, I cry thinking it is the remains of my beloved son,” she said while crying. All of them sobbed inconsolably, unable to speak. They alleged that as they are relatives of the missing victims, they are yet to get proper compensation. Meanwhile, after placing floral wreaths to pay homage to the victims, various labour organisations including Garment Workers Trade Union Centre, Garment Workers Federation, Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Federation, and Garment Sromik Oikyo Forum reiterated their demand for immediate and adequate compensation to the Rana Plaza victims. Left-leaning political organisations, including Naya Gonotantrik Gonomorcha, Jatiyo Mukti Council, Jatiyo Gonotantrik Gonomancha and Jatiyo Gonofront, also placed wreaths there. They also demanded punishment to the persons responsible for the deadliest building collapse. They brought different placards and banners mentioning the demands to mark April 24 as “RMG Genocide Day”. They also held protest rallies and human chains demanding death penalty to all those responsible, including the building owner and ruling party leader Sohel Rana. Local worker leaders told this correspondent that people are still finding skulls and bones in the debris. While visiting the collapsed sites, The Independent found that land grabbers have raised their ugly heads again and are trying to grab the land, as the tin fence put up by the Dhaka District administration was not seen there. Even the signboard ordered by the court stands removed. As police set up camps to oversee the site was withdrawn, the area became a safe zone for the criminals, especially the drug users and sex workers. The tragedy occurred on April 24, 2013, leaving a total of 1,135 persons dead and another 1,524 injured. Of them, 844 were critically injured, while 291 bodies could not be identified, claims labour bodies. UNB adds: The European Union (EU) and the United States (US) in a joint statement yesterday 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.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=255964:all-left-with-kin-of-rana-plaza-victims-is-tears&catid=129:frontpage&Itemid=121

The country’s industrial activities in the first half of the current fiscal year (2014-15) witnessed a moderate trend. The moderate trend is reflected in the latest data available with state-owned Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Last week, BBS released data of industrial output of July-December period of 2014 at the fag end of FY’15. It shows that the Quantum Index of Industrial Production (QIIP) of medium and large scale manufacturing industries stood at 243.36 points at the end of December last year which was 240.13 points at the end of June. But December index is lower than July when the index was 257.05 points, the highest in the first six months of current fiscal year. Official statistics also showed that industrial activities went through a fluctuation in the following months.  The six month average index, however, stood at 234.20 points registering a 13 per cent growth over the same period of FY’14. The first half of FY’14 was a period of turmoil as political violence hit country. On the other hand, first half of current fiscal year went through a calm situation. Industrial output index of major industry group also revealed upward trend in most of the sectors. BBS data showed that among the major industry group, output of wearing apparels, food products, non-metallic mineral products, leather and related products, chemicals and chemical products, basic metals and fabricated metal products except machinery has registered positive growth over the first six months of previous fiscal year. On the other hand output of textile, pharmaceuticals and tobacco products have declined significantly. Besides manufacturing, output of mining has also increased moderately during the first half of the current fiscal year. Electricity output, however, declined slightly. According to BBS, mining output stood at 174.54 points at the end of December last which was 155.27 at the end of June 2014. On the other hand, electricity output index stood 152.81 points in December last which was 203.83 in June 2014. Asian Development Bank (ADB), in its latest quarterly update on Bangladesh economy, said that industrial growth dropped to 8.4 per cent in FY’14 from 9.6 per cent a year earlier, due to supply disruption and weaker consumer confidence resulting from political unrest. “At 8.5 per cent, industry sector growth in FY2015 will be lower than expected at the beginning of FY2015, as exports, small-scale manufacturing, and construction activities have been affected by the political unrest,” it added. ADB, however, pointed out that better performance of large- and medium-scale industries prior to the onset of the unrest is expected to hold up industry sector growth.

Source: https://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/25/90160

The European Commission (EC), the US government and the US agencies concerned have called for immediate framing of necessary rules for implementation of Bangladesh Labour Act in line with the international standards. In a joint statement, they also suggested enactment of legislation on export processing zones (EPZs) to ensure that workers inside the zones enjoy rights commensurate with those outside the special areas. “We urge the government to issue – without further delay – the implementing rules for Bangladesh Labour Act, consistent with the international labour standards,” said the joint statement, issued on the EC official website on April 24. High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/ Vice-President of EC Federica Mogherini, US Secretary of State John Kerry, EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström, US Trade Representative Michael BG Froman, EU Commissioner In-charge of International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica, US Agency for International Development Acting Administrator Alfonso E Lenhardt, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Marianne Thyssen, and US Secretary of Labour Thomas E Perez issued the statement, marking the 2nd anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy. The statement also suggested that the government of Bangladesh should respond swiftly to cases of unfair labour practice, violence and harassment against trade unions and workers’ representatives. “Today we mark the passage of two years since the tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza building that claimed over 1,100 lives and injured many more. We join the people of Bangladesh in mourning those who lost their lives, and remain mindful of the difficult struggle for those who survived.” Taking note of the progress that has been made so far, the statement said significant work still remains to be done under the Sustainability Compact for Bangladesh to realise its goals. In the aftermath of the Rana Plaza collapse, the EU, the US and the International Labour Organization (ILO) joined with Bangladesh to undertake a series of significant commitments to foster respect for fundamental labour rights and ensure worker safety and health in the garment sector, it mentioned. The partners announced the sustainability compact, a statement of principles and commitments designed to bring about a lasting transformation in the sector, the statement also said. “Our commitment to Bangladesh is strong and enduring. The EU and the US, in close cooperation with the ILO, will remain closely engaged with the Government of Bangladesh in the spirit of partnership to continue our work together to ensure that economic growth and sustainable development go hand-in-hand with workers’ safety and rights,” it added. UNB adds: The European Union (EU) has alerted Bangladesh that it could revisit Everything But Arms (EBA), if another tragedy like Rana Plaza takes place or even just the poor conditions for workers continue. “Another tragedy, or even just a continuation of today’s poor conditions for workers, could also force the European Union to revisit Everything But Arms,” said EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström. She was addressing a conference titled ‘Remembering Rana Plaza: What Next’ at the European Parliament in Brussels to mark the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza clothing factory disaster. Jean Lambert, member of the EP and chairperson of the delegation for relations with South Asia was also present. Bangladesh’s export earnings currently stand at above $30 billion, half of which comes from the EU. EU’s ‘Everything But Arms’ arrangement was born in 2001 to give all LDCs full duty- free and quota-free access to the EU for all their exports with the exception of arms and armaments. The EU Trade Commissioner lauded the progress made by trade unions, businesses and the government of Bangladesh within the framework of the 2013 Sustainability Compact. But she also noted that much more needed to be done to improve the conditions for Bangladesh’s workers. Cecilia Malmström said the country’s economic future and the conditions of its workers were inextricably linked. “So fully implementing the compact makes good economic sense just as much as it makes good moral sense.” “We’re here today to remember Rana Plaza. Remembrance has a double purpose. We do it to show our respect for victims, the survivors and their families. And we do it to show we’ve learned from the past. The best way we can do that is by changing our behaviour. And I hope that is exactly what we will do,” said Malmström. She said all need to see actions on the rights of workers in export processing zones and these zones are positive initiatives to boost growth and development in Bangladesh. “But, to put it simply, they cannot be at the expense of fundamental labour rights.” The government needs to adopt legislation that ensures rights to workers in the zones are effectively the same as those provided for in the national labour law, said the EU Trade Commissioner.

Source: https://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/25/90180

Different organizations, rights groups, stakeholders observed the second anniversary Friday of the tragic Rana Plaza collapse to commemorate those who lost their lives in the largest ever industrial disaster. On April 14, 2013, a nine-storied building that housed five garments factories collapsed in Savar leaving at least 1,138 dead and 2,515 injured. Family members, survivours and workers’ organisations gathered in front of Rana Plaza in the morning to remember the victims. They staged a demonstration and demanded punishment of the perpetrators of the disaster. Dhaka district Deputy Commissioner Tofazzal Mia and Dhaka district Police Super Habibur Rahman placed bouquets at the place of devastated Rana Plaza in the morning. Many hospitals opened camps in front of Rana Plaza to provide free treatment to the people injured in the disaster. The local administration deployed law enforcing agency personnel in the area to avert untoward incidents. Various workers organisations formed human chain and demonstrated in front of Press Club demanding Rana Plaza victims’ compensation and justice for the dead and injured. They also demanded publishing official list of dead and injured and introduction of public holiday on the day. A day after the collapse, Rajuk official Helaluddin filed a case against Sohel Rana, owner of Rana Plaza, for structural flaws in the building and for constructing it with sub-standard materials and also for violation of building code. Savar police and the family members of a victim filed another case against Rana, his father and owners of the five factories housed in the building. But charge sheets are yet to be pressed in those cases even after two years.

Source: https://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/04/25/90179

Bangladesh still cannot claim that even one of its 4,000 active garment factories is 100 percent safe two years after the Rana Plaza disaster, a global labour group said yesterday. “It is an unacceptable reality that not a single factory can yet be called 100 percent safe,” said IndustriALL Global Union on the eve of the second anniversary of the country’s worst-ever industrial disaster.In a statement, it said important progress has been made but the fact that remediation works are behind schedule — with some over six months behind — is a serious problem.The Geneva-based group called upon the garment industry to show that it has the leadership to stay the course and change the global supply chain permanently.“The global garment industry needs to show to its consumers that it has learned its lesson and is able to move on to addressing another burning question: the poverty wages paid to workers.”IndustriALL also rued the lack of funds needed to compensate the injured workers and the dependants of the deceased.The compensation fund is still missing $6 million out of the targeted $30 million. IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary Jyrki Raina said: “Two years after this industrial homicide, the victims of Rana Plaza are still waiting for full compensation.This is a collective responsibility, but we specifically call upon brands like Benetton, Mango, Walmart and Carrefour to contribute more.”UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings said: “It’s outrageous that families who lost their mothers and breadwinners have still not been fully compensated because a group of multinationals can’t find it in their hearts or deep pockets to pay the $6 million missing from the compensation fund.”“All brands need to join forces to end the funding crisis by closing the funding gap and stepping up the remedial work on factories.”The unions also said they will use every tool within the legally binding Bangladesh Accord to ensure that the brands and factory owners fix the structures.The legally binding Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety was negotiated by IndustriALL, UNI and its NGO partners with the brands after the Rana Plaza collapse. The Accord now has more than 200 brands signed up. The agency has completed nearly 1,500 factory inspections and identified many thousands of safety issues for remedy.More than 2,500 garment factories have been inspected for structural, fire and electrical safety since the disaster.However, Syed Ahmed, inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, on Wednesday said while there are problems with many factories, the number of structures facing risks of collapse is less than 2 percent.The government has already shut down 32 factories for health and safety concerns, according to the ILO.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/not-even-single-factory-fully-safe-yet-industriall-78955

With the collapse of the factories they toiled for and resultant life-threatening injuries, they had thought that their lives had come to an end or at least they would be left to die a painful death as they could not afford treatment.But two years after of the deadly Rana Plaza disaster, the survivors who took treatment at the Centre for the Rehabilitation for the Paralysed (CRP) have started dreaming a new life again thanks to the services provided by the centre.“I was feeling helpless after losing my left leg in the tragedy,” said Rehana Akter, one of the survivors.But after coming to the CRP and getting artificial leg attached to my left leg, I am now hopeful that I will be able to build my life again,” she said.The 24-year-old former garment worker was speaking at a programme organised to commemorate the victims of the building collapse at the CRP’s Mirpur campus in the capital yesterday. The CRP organised the event on the eve of the second anniversary of the country’s worst-ever workplace disaster, to be observed nationally and internationally today.Rehana is one of the 509 Rana Plaza survivors who have been helped out by the CRP. Of them, 169 were in-patients and 340 out-patients. Of the in-patients, 36 received treatment for amputations and 38 for spinal injuries.Ashraful, another survivor, said it had seemed to him that there would be no life, after his left side got almost paralysed. He has come around after taking therapy at the CRP. The CRP also trained him on how to manage a shop, and set up a shop for him in his village home.I now run it. I want to expand the shop and earn more money so my two children receive proper education,” said the former worker of Ether Tex, which was housed in the Rana Plaza building.The CRP’s support has gone beyond medical treatment. It has trained 390 survivors on various vocational trades such as tailoring, animal husbandry and electrical mechanics.Of them, 370 have been rehabilitated. The rest will also be rehabilitated, said Shafiq-ul Islam, executive director of the CRP. Officials of the CRP helped set up business, shops and buy cows instead of giving the money in their hands. The centre spent Tk 1 lakh for each patient.The CRP received about Tk 4.5 crore as donations from individuals and others meant for Rana Plaza survivors in 2013. But it stopped taking donations after that as it thought the amount was enough to treat the patients, according to Islam.Now there was no Rana Plaza survivor who is taking treatment from the CRP. However, three survivors Yeanur Akter, Sabina Yasmin and Rehana Begum will receive long-term rehabilitation.Of them, Yeanur, 16, who is now studying at class VI, will continue to stay at the CRP until she passes the Secondary School Certificate exam. Thomas Prinz, German ambassador to Bangladesh, said a lot of good things, ideas and innovations have come out of the tragedy. “And I would like to say that you are not alone. Germany is committed to providing long-term support as disability is not a short-term issue,” he said.The ambassador said German organisation GIZ has initiated projects for the disabled, so they can start working again and they are treated with dignity. He also said the country’s image crisis imposed by the Rana Plaza collapse has not overcome yet. “We need to continue progressing, and the momentum has to translate into development results.”Valerie Taylor, founder and coordinator of the CRP, expressed deep gratitude for coming up with outpouring support for the victims of Rana Plaza.Jochen Weikert, programme coordinator at GIZ, said it is a sad day not only in the history of Bangladesh, but also in the history of the world. “But we would like to say that we are committed to supporting in your (the survivors) journey from despair to hope,” he said. Khondkar Mostan Hossain, joint secretary of the labour and employment ministry, said the government has taken a number of steps with the help of other stakeholders. Progresses of the initiatives are visible.Christine Cipolla, head of delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said the stories of Rana Plaza survivors’ strong determination of not giving up have given Red Cross hope. “We have passed two years, but miles and miles lie ahead of us, and we are committed to standing by the most vulnerable,” she said.Reaz Bin Mahmood, a vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said the wellbeing of the workers would be growth of the country’s garment sector in the years to come.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/crp-gives-hope-rana-plaza-survivors-78951

Bangladesh has made significant progress in workplace safety since the Rana Plaza building collapse two years ago, as a result of broader reforms undertaken by the government and international communities, analysts and industry insiders said.The country needs a continuation of the momentum in improvements so that no more tragedy like the Rana Plaza incident takes place,” said Srinivas B Reddy, country director of International Labour Organisation.The Accord, a platform of 190 retailers — mainly European, and Alliance, another platform of 26 North American retailers and brands, have already completed preliminary inspections of 2,087 factories in September last year and found more than 98 percent of the factories safe.Only 29 factories were closed after the inspections. “Bangladesh needs to own the workplace safety improvement as the foreign inspection agencies will leave the country after 2019,” Reddy said.The government has also inspected 650 out of 2,000 factories, which are not members of the Accord and Alliance, under an ILO managed project to address structural, fire and electrical safety issues.The government should strengthen the capacity of three important agencies — the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence, and Rajuk — to continue addressing the safety issues after the departure of the foreign agencies in 2019, he said.The ILO has been coordinating the safety improvement efforts and disbursement of compensation after the deadliest industrial accident on this day in 2013 that claimed the lives of 1,138 workers and injured many.Following the incident that also tarnished the image of the country’s apparel sector, the US government in June the same year suspended a trade privilege for Bangladesh — the generalised system of preferences (GSP). The US also gave Bangladesh 16 conditions to get back the status.Although the GSP used to cover only 0.54 percent or $26 million of Bangladesh’s total exports to the US a year, continuation of the privilege was important as other countries, where Bangladesh enjoys duty benefits under the GSP, might be influenced by the US decision.The government also had to sign a Sustainability Compact with the EU, the main export destination for Bangladesh, in July 2013.Bangladesh has already submitted the progress report on workplace safety to United States Trade Representative (USTR), the chief trade negotiator for the US, twice to regain the status. Bangladesh expects it will regain the status once the trade privilege is re-launched as the USTR has suspended the GSP programme for all beneficiary countries since July 31, 2013.Wajed Ali Khan, general secretary to Bangladesh Trade Union Centre, suggested garment factories should not be established in multi-storied buildings as workers are unable to escape during any disaster, especially fire.He lauded the owners’ initiatives in relocating factories from Dhaka to other places and housing the factories in purpose-made buildings. To meet retailers’ requirements, the construction of green factories and purpose-made buildings is also on the rise, he said.Currently, 60 percent of the factories are housed in purpose-made buildings and 40 percent in shared and converted buildings, though the situation was the opposite before the accident, according to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.“Inspecting garment factories and undertaking necessary modifications under the private initiatives of Accord, Alliance and NTPA (National Tripartite Plan of Action) with the support of the ILO is a unique method even in the context of the global apparel value chain,” Khandker Golam Moazzem, additional director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said in his latest research paper.Bangladesh’s performance till date in regard to the implementation of various activities related to the USTR action plan has been quite impressive, Moazzem said in his paper released on Tuesday.“The USTR should take the recent developments positively and should consider reinstatement of the GSP facility for Bangladeshi products in the US market in the near future if Bangladesh outdoes the present rate of achievements in terms of implementation of reforms,” he said.He, however, said delayed cabinet approval to the rules of the amended labour law and harassment of trade union leaders are some areas where the government should focus on.“Of course, Bangladesh will regain the GSP status once it is re-launched as we have already fulfilled all the conditions perfectly,” said Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, senior secretary to the commerce ministry.“We have amended the labour law within a short time and we have done everything to be a high-level compliant country in the world,” Mamoon said.“Our factories are compliant now as we have taken a lot of positive steps for workplace safety.Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, assistant executive director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, also said a lot of improvement has taken place in the sector.“Now the time has come to make the improvement sustainable,” Ahmed said.A total of 20,724 workers have lost their jobs for the rigorous inspections; they should be reemployed through a joint collaboration by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, inspection agencies and factory owners.A major change in the sector has been witnessed after the Rana Plaza incident for the positive steps taken by the government and factory owners, said Sirajul Islam Rony, a member of the minimum wage board for garment workers.Retailers do not want to place work orders in factories housed in shared and converted buildings, and as a result, owners are shifting factories to purpose-made structures, he added.The government has also recruited more than 200 new factory inspectors, which is also a major step for the sector, he said. The registration of more than 300 new trade unions within one and a half years is like magic, he added.The government has allowed registration of new trade unions with an amendment to the labour law in July 2013; the amendment was also a pre-requisite to regain the GSP.The government also launched a hotline for workers and a publicly accessible database of garment factories, as per a requirement of the USTR.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/fair-progress-after-tragedy-78948

A European diplomat yesterday called for completion of compensation disbursement to Rana Plaza victims without further delays.“First and foremost, we need to close the chapter on the compensation for the Rana Plaza victims with great urgency and transparency,” said Martine van Hoogstraten, charge d’affaires of the Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka.While close to 3,500 Rana Plaza victims and their dependants have received at least 70 percent of the compensation through the trust fund, much work is still needed before there can be full closure, she said.Furthermore, more than 80 missing victims still need to be identified, efforts need to be coordinated to ensure that the discrepancies in the awards are minimised, long-term health care for the injured needs to be resolved, and, an overall compensation framework needs to be institutionalised.“While we recognise the progress made over the past years, significant efforts are still needed, and, as development partners, it is our responsibility to ensure that we take them forward and keep the momentum going.”Hoogstraten spoke at a programme, “Rana Plaza two years on: Towards a safer RMG sector for Bangladesh,” at the capital’s Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka yesterday.The event was organised by the International Labour Organisation to commemorate the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse that killed 1,138 workers and injured thousands.Diplomats from different countries, government higher-ups, leaders from the rights groups, researchers and garment businessmen participated in the event.Bangladesh has made a significant progress in workplace safety, but the country needs continuation of the progress, said Pierre Mayaudon, head of the delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh.The country’s total garment exports to the 28 nations under the EU are equivalent to 10 percent of the GDP in a year, he said.Asked if the progress on workplace safety is enough, he said: “The short answer would be a ‘no’.”The long answer is that Bangladesh needs to implement the rules of amended labour law and strong monitoring of the occupational safety measures, stop unfair treatment of trade union leaders and extend union rights to workers from factories housed in the export processing zones.Although remediation is underway in some factories, provision of low-cost financing remains critical for the purpose, said Pierre Benoit Laramee, Canadian high commissioner in Bangladesh.“Ensuring a safe and thriving sector also requires that working environments are safe. A safe factory means one where workers do not overwork so that they put their health at risk,” he added.Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, US Ambassador in Bangladesh, said “amazing progress” has taken place to address workers’ safety in the garment sector.“We know that certain actors have resorted to illegal tactics to prevent unions from forming, such as firing, threatening and even beating suspected union leaders. These are illegal and criminal acts and the government of Bangladesh has been slow — or unable to respond.”Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufac-turers and Exporters Association, said the collapse of Rana Plaza was a tremendous wake-up call for the country’s garment sector. “We have a lot of challenges. But the problems of the last 30 years cannot be overcome in two years.”No country in the world has shown such a change in a single industry, said Tomoko Nishimoto, ILO’s assistant director-general and regional director for Asia and the Pacific, adding that other countries can follow Bangladesh’s lead.Mikail Shipar, labour secretary, said the government has already recruited 218 additional factory inspectors and the total number is 285 now. The government allowed more than 300 new trade unions over last one and half years, he added.Tapan Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Employers’ Federation; Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, commerce secretary; Roy Ramesh Chandra, secretary general of IndustriALL Bangladesh; and Robert Winnington Gibson, British high commissioner in Bangladesh, also spoke.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/complete-compensation-without-delay-78949

Garment workers’ rights bodies today called for immediate compensation of Rana Plaza victims and swift punishment for the culprits behind the world’s biggest workplace disaster.

– “Mark Apr 24 as mass worker murder day”
– Call to declare Apr 24 RMG mourning day
– Masses pour in at Rana Plaza collapse site
– Human chains, protest rallies held
The calls were placed on the second anniversary of Rana Plaza collapse, world’s worst workplace disaster, that killed over 1,100 people and injured double as many othersDemonstrators at the site in Savar held protest rallies or human chains demanding punishment of the culprits to blame, including the building owner Sohel Rana.Among those workers’ rights groups demonstrating at the collapse site were: Garment Workers Trade Union Centre, Garment Workers Federation, Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Federation and Garment Sromik Oikyo Forum.Hundreds of people gather at the Rana Plaza collapse site in Savar, where over a thousand were killed in the worst workplace disaster of the world two years ago, forming human chains and holding protest programmes on April 24, 2015. Photo: StaProgrammes began centering the Shaheed Bedi, put up in remembrance of the deadly incident, from around 8:00am today.Hundreds of people swarmed the place demonstrating or protesting. Demonstrators yielded placards demanding compensation for the victims of Rana Plaza.Among them, four political organisations Jatiyo Mukti Council, Naya Gonotantrik Gonomorcha, Jatiyo Gonotantrik Gonomancha and Jatiyo Gonofront placed forth a banner urging all to mark Apr 24 as a day garment workers were mass murdered.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/country/call-rana-plaza-victims%E2%80%99-compensation-79071