Stakeholders, experts sit Sunday to finalize draft if shipbreaking, recycling rules:

Dhaka, Dec 3 (UNB) - Stakeholders of shipbreaking and ship recycling sector along with Industries Ministry will hold discussion on Sunday to finalize draft of ‘Ship Breaking and Ship Recycling Rules-2011’.

The rules are being designed to make the country’s growing ship-breaking industry green and workers’ friendly.

Recommendations will be sought from the stakeholders and experts to finalize the rules to help grow the sector by protecting the environment and offering better benefits to workers.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua will attend the meeting at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the morning.

The government is considering experience and ideas gained from different shipbreaking nations like China and India in finalizing the rules for shipbreaking, which was recently formally recognized as an industry.

The parties involved in the sector said they would take it as a serious job to make sure that least damage is done to the environment and better deals are offered to the workers engaged in the sector.

Shipbreaking yard owners have already pledged to implement and follow the rules and regulations being adopted by the government to help grow the sector that makes a significant contribution to the economy and generate employment.

On February 13, the government declared the shipbreaking as an industry after a high-profile meeting, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a number of ministers, advisers and senior officials were present to discuss the sector's positive and negative sides.

The shipbreaking industry, located at the seashore in Chittagong, is the main source of bulk of the raw materials used by some 500 private sector re-rolling mills and nearly 50 steel mills for producing mild steel rods, bars and angles at affordable price.

Source: UBC Connect. 3 December 2011

http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-64663