IOSH calls on Bangladesh interim government to address health and safety standards

Muhammad Yunus was chosen to lead the government following the resignation of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the midst of violent unrest.

This has prompted the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) to highlight the opportunity to uphold human rights, strengthen worker protections and ensure a more robust alignment with International Labour Organization occupational safety and health standards. While strides have been made to improve health and safety standards since the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, concerns persist as the political uncertainty continues.

Opportunity

Dr Ivan Williams Jimenez, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at IOSH, said: “Despite the political turmoil, the fragmented political landscape presents an opportunity to not only stabilise the economy but also enhance the working conditions and labour rights for those employed in industries such as textile and garment, agriculture and fishing.

“This proved a challenging agenda to address during Sheikh Hasina's tenure, hindered by factors such as overpopulation, a humanitarian crisis, institutional corruption, human rights abuses, low female labour force participation, slow progress towards climate and green initiatives and economic disparities.”

The change in government comes at a time when Bangladesh is preparing to transition from a ‘least developed country’ to a ‘developing country’ by 2026. For that to happen, democratisation and reform plans need to be prioritised, and they need to include working women and workers belonging to minorities and marginalised groups.

It is also expected that a more progressive and stable government will consider ratification of the International Labour Organization’s conventions on:

• occupational safety and health, 1981 (No. 155), and
• promotional framework for occupational safety and health, 2006 (No. 187).

Doing this would be a step towards upholding the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment. This can only take place in a more stable landscape where efforts to tackle supply chain disruption and shortages are set within the scope of a defined time frame for elections.

Transition

Dr Williams Jimenez added: “This transition will require rebuilding partnerships with neighbouring countries and trading partners, as well as changes in foreign trade, foreign direct investments and trade agreements.

Following the Rana Plaza factory collapse in 2013, which killed over 1,000 workers, the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Garment and Textile Industry was set up, encouraging recognised brands to sign up and demonstrate commitment to protecting workers in the sector.

Among the other steps taken was the introduction of the OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) Initiative for Workers and Communities, which was co-funded by IOSH. This saw a cohort of people undergo training to enable them to deliver workshops to raise health and safety standards in Bangladesh’s factories and communities.

More recently, the previous and current government committed to facilitate the implementation of an 18-point agreement to enhance workers’ conditions, reached during a tripartite meeting of the ready-garment sector, in September this year.

Dr Williams Jimenez added: “There is still much to be done in terms of making OSH training available to shop floor workers, improving resources for labour and OSH inspections, promoting safety committees, and collecting and reporting data on occupational accidents, injuries and diseases. There’s also the need to address more day-to-day issues, such as shortages of gas and electricity for factories.”