Casualties suffered by workers due to occupational accidents, violence and industrial disputes are on the rise day by day in the country.According to a survey, carried out by Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), 906 workers were killed due to the incidents in 2012 while it was 301 in 2000. Some 1108 others were also injured in the year 2012.
Citing the survey report at a press conference at BILS office at Dhanmondi in the city on Saturday, BILS officials said the death toll was 869 in 2011 while it was 703 in 2010.
It indicated that the occupational accidents being faced by the workers are increasing, they said.
The country’s horrible incidents took place in the readymade garment sector. Fire incident at Tazreen Fashions Limited and killing of many other RMG workers due to collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar recently are the deadliest in the country’s history, they said.
Citing the survey report, they said that 92.79 percent workers in the country have also been suffering from different diseases.
BILS acting secretary general Jafrul Hasan, secretary Dr Wajedul Islam Khan, vice chairman Mujibur Rahman Bhuiyan, assistant executive director Syed Sultan Ahmed and advisory council member Roy Ramesh Chandra addressed the reporters at the press conference, arranged by BILS on the occasion of the International Commemoration Day, which will be observed tomorrow
(Sunday).
The ILO celebrates the Day for Safety and Health at Work on the April 28 to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health and on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities worldwide.
The 28th of April is also a day in which the world’s trade union movement holds its international Commemoration Day for dead and injured workers to honour the memory of victims of occupational accidents and diseases and organize worldwide mobilzations and campaigns.
The theme of this year’s day is: “prevention of occupational diseases”.
Addressing the press conference today (Saturday), BILS officials called for ensuring safer working environment for the workers. UNB
