'Enforce ILO charter to save construction workers'

There is no proper list of workers dead, injured or missing in accidents at construction sites in the country, said construction workers in Barisal yesterday.
They demanded immediate implementation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) charter as accepted by the government, enforcement of the labour act and a building construction code with complete health insurance and rehabilitation facilities for the victimised workers.
They placed the demands at a programme marking the 21st founding anniversary and annual general meeting of the Barisal district unit of Imarat Nirman Sramik Union (INSU) at Barisal Aswani Kumar Hall.
Reports of accidents at construction sites often go unnoticed without any compensation and rehabilitation grants, they said.
None follow the High Court instruction to pay Tk 1 lakh per every dead victim in a construction site accident, they said calling for a modernised, well-equipped, separate wing for rescue and recovery operations for the workers.
M A Jalil, president of Barisal district unit INSU, presided over the programme that was participated by more than 1,000 construction workers from all over Barisal.
Abdur Razzak, central secretary of INSU, A K Azad, central committee member and district secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra, Abdus Salam Shikdar, district secretary INSU, also addressed the programme.