Joint
statement issued by the tripartite partners at the conclusion of the ILO's
high-level mission sent to Dhaka, Bangladesh, following the Rana Plaza Building
collapse.
The
tripartite partners (Government, employers and workers) and the International
Labour Organization (ILO) express their great sadness at the immense loss of
life and serious injuries caused by the collapse of the Rana Plaza Building in
Savar on April 24 2013, as well as the recent factory fires at Tazreen Fashions
Limited and Smart Export Garments. All partners extend their condolences to the
bereaved families of the victims and convey our sympathy to those injured due
to these terrible events.
From 1-4
May, a high level delegation of the ILO, led by Deputy Director General for
Field Operations and Partnerships, Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, visited Bangladesh to
convey the solidarity of the ILO with those affected by these tragic events,
the partners from government, labour, and industry, and to the nation as a
whole. The Mission engaged with the tripartite partners and other stakeholders
to identify what needs to be done to prevent any such future tragedies.
The
tripartite partners stand united in their resolve to do everything possible to
prevent further tragedy. In this respect, the tripartite partners and the ILO
have agreed on the necessity to develop an action plan focusing on the
following short and medium term steps:
Submission
to Parliament, during its next session, which is expected to be called in June
2013, of a labour law reform package, that considers inputs of the tripartite
partners and that would improve protection, in law and practice, for the
fundamental rights to freedom of association and the right to collective
bargaining, as well as occupational safety and health.
Assess by
the end of 2013 the structural building safety and fire safety of all active
export-oriented ready-made garment factories in Bangladesh, and initiate
remedial actions, including relocation of unsafe factories. The tripartite
partners call on the ILO to assist in the mobilisation of the technical and
financial resources required to undertake the assessment.
The
tripartite partners call on the ILO to launch a skills and training programme
for workers who sustained injuries in the recent tragic events at Tazreen
Fashions Ltd., Smart Export Garments and Rana Plaza that resulted in
disability. In addition, BGMEA and BKMEA are to redeploy the RMG workers that
were rendered unemployed as well as rehabilitated workers as was emphasized by
the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Recruit,
within 6 months, 200 additional inspectors by the Government and ensure that,
the Department of the Chief Inspector of Factories and Establishments will have
been upgraded to a Directorate with an annual regular budget allocation
adequate to enable i) the recruitment of a minimum of 800 inspectors and ii)
the development of the infrastructure required for their proper functioning.
Implement,
in full, the National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety in the RMG
Industry in Bangladesh, and extend its scope to include structural integrity of
buildings to improve health, occupational and structural safety and other
vulnerable sectors, to be identified in consultation with the relevant
stakeholders.
The
tripartite partners call upon the Better Work joint management (ILO/IFC) to
meet immediately after the adoption of the labour law, assuming the law reform
package adopted would constitute improved protection, in law and practice, for
the fundamental rights to freedom of association and the right to collective
bargaining, as well as occupational safety and health and progress on trade
union registration would continue.
The action
plan will include a follow-up mechanism to measure in 6 months time, progress
made in the implementation of the measures announced today.
Safety must
be given the highest consideration by the Government, employers and workers in
Bangladesh. Those responsible for the tragic events that have occurred in
Bangladesh over the past 6 months shall be held accountable. Unless lawful
actions are taken at the earliest more lives may be lost in preventable
industrial accidents. The tripartite partners therefore resolved to increase
their efforts to provide every single worker in Bangladesh with a safe work
place, and to ensure workers’ rights and representation, regardless of whether
that work place may be a garment factory, a retail shop or a bank. The ILO
expresses its appreciation for the resolve of the tripartite partners.
The
tripartite partners and the ILO acknowledge that the challenges are daunting
but believe that, if international buyers and brands take increased
responsibility for improving working conditions and safety and health and with
the active support of development partners and donors, safety can and must be improved
in all workplaces throughout Bangladesh.
Source: ILO. 4 May 2013
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