Step up workplace safety: ILO

There is an urgent need for relevant authorities and factory owners in Bangladesh to ensure safe working environments at local production units, said International Labour Organization (ILO) in a statement issued yesterday.

The comment reflects on Thursday's fire at a factory of Hashem Foods, a concern of Sajeeb Group, in Narayanganj that claimed the lives of at least 52 people.

This incident illustrates the importance of keeping adequate safety measures in place at any factory, where thousands of workers typically spend the better part of their day, said the labour standards body.

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"So, all manufacturing units must be built and operated in compliance with the national code of requirements," it added.

If fire safety measures were implemented in accordance with regulations, it would ensure safe evacuation in any emergency situation, it said.

After the Rana Plaza building collapse on April 24, 2013 that claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people, numerous international brands and retailers faced scrutiny for turning a blind eye to Bangladesh's production practices.

This gave rise to the demand for better workplace safety measures in the world's second-largest garment exporting country.

Two agreements after the disaster saw retailers get involved in initiatives to improve working conditions -- the Bangladesh Accord on fire and building safety, signed by about 200 major brands and unions, and an alliance on worker safety -- according to Reuters.

However, international fashion companies constantly put pressure on local garment suppliers to keep prices low and this results in cost cutting on safety and wages, as per a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The ILO said it has since worked closely with the government as well as various employers' and worker' organisations to develop and improve the industry's working conditions.

The organisation is also working with the government's labour inspectorate to enhance the effectiveness of safety inspections, said the ILO statement.

Besides, the ILO is aiding the development and implementation of an industrial safety framework that would extend the good practices applied over the past eight year in the garment sector to all other industries, it added.

The most recent incident highlights the importance of this endeavour and so, the ILO will continue to work with Bangladesh's government and various industry organisations to this end, it said.

"We hope that this incident will drive all parties involved to apply renewed vigour in addressing the safety deficits in workplaces across the country," said the ILO.

The ILO went on to say that it was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives of at least 52 workers, a number of whom were adolescents.

"We extend our heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the families of the victims and others injured at this factory," it added.