Workplace safety in Bangladesh ready-made garment sector: 3 years after the Rana Plaza collapse

Abstract

Workplace safety is one of the most important issues in industries worldwide, and is endangered by industrial accidents. Different industrial disasters have resulted in several initiatives worldwide to protect human life and reduce material damage, both nationally and internationally. In Bangladesh, the ready-made garment (RMG) industry is one of the most important export-oriented business sectors, which is facing challenges to ensure workplace safety. The Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh is the consequence of such non-compliance. The accident resulted in different local and global initiatives to address the challenges. This article reviews progress and achievement of the initiatives to reduce vulnerability in the Bangladesh RMG industry within 3 years after the deadly accident. In the long run, the challenge is to maintain momentum already created for achieving sustainability in the RMG sector in Bangladesh and maintaining compliance even after the end of support from external partners.

Freedom of association in the Bangladeshi garment industry: A policy schizophrenia in labour regulation

“…After the Rana Plaza tragedy, the ILO, the European Union and major importing countries put pressure on the Government of Bangladesh to implement suitable programmes to ensure workers' safety (Crook, 2013;Barua and Ansary, 2017). 12 In this regard, it is worth mentioning the suspension of the US trade privileges for Bangladesh on 27 June 2013.…”

La liberté syndicale dans l’industrie de la confection au Bangladesh, ou la schizophrénie de la réglementation du travail

“…Après la tragédie du Rana Plaza, l'OIT, l'Union européenne et les principaux partenaires commerciaux du Bangladesh font pression sur le gouvernement en l'incitant à mettre en oeuvre les programmes nécessaires pour assurer la sécurité de sa main-d'oeuvre (Crook, 2013;Barua et Ansary, 2017) 12 . Le 27 juin 2013, les États-Unis suspendent notamment les privilèges commerciaux accordés au Bangladesh, qui pouvait jusqu'alors expédier quelque 5 000 catégories d'articles en franchise de droits vers ce territoire en application du système généralisé de préférences (SGP) de l'Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC).…”

Factors Affecting Vulnerability of Ready-Made Garment Factory Buildings in Bangladesh: An Assessment Under Vertical and Earthquake Loads

“…Among those buildings, 2.3% were identified as highly vulnerable, 42.7% as moderately vulnerable, 24.4% as slightly vulnerable, and 30.6% as not vulnerable (Ansary and Barua 2015). Ansary and Barua (2015) and Barua and Ansary (2017) presented detailed description of the procedures and the outcomes of assessment for vertical load vulnerability of RMG factory buildings. The majority of these buildings are located in Dhaka Division (comprising Dhaka, Gazipur, Magura, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Nawabganj, and Tangail Districts) followed by Chittagong Division (comprising Chandpur, Chittagong, Comilla, Feni, Noakhali, and Rangamati Districts).…”

“…Completion of structural vulnerability assessments of all factory buildings revealed that Bangladesh has progressed a lot in terms of achieving workplace safety compliance. Nevertheless, assessment alone is not enough to ensure a safe working environment for all factories in the RMG sector (Barua and Ansary 2017). Weak factory buildings must be strengthened to withstand both vertical and earthquake loads and to prevent them from collapse.…”