Workers forced to dismantle ships amid shutdown

Dozens of ship-breaking yards in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram have started operations since yesterday amid the countrywide shutdown that has been imposed by the government to contain coronavirus.

The owners of the yards directed their workers to be at work at a time when the workers were in fear of being affected by coronavirus as one of their co-workers died on 25 February with Covid-19 symptoms in Khagrachhari district.

Mohammad Abu Taher, president of Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBA), in letter issued on Wednesday asked the yard owners to begin their operations and make sure workers follow health advisory to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Although the government ordered them to shut down their operations following coronavirus outbreak earlier, the ministry of industry gave them go-ahead with ship-breaking operations in a meeting held on Sunday.

The Daily Star obtained a copy of the letter that instructed the association members to follow three health guidelines including health advisory issued by the government, wearing PPE (personal protective equipment), and maintaining social distancing and keep their yards open.

Around five thousand shipbreaking workers got stranded at labor camps in Sitakunda since 24 March when government declared general shutdown.

One of the workers at Jiri Subedar area in Sitakunda upazila preferring anonymity told The Daily Star that there were around five thousands workers left stranded at various labour camps and forced to join amid fear of being affected by coronavirus.

"Many of the workers left Sitakunda for their homes. We could not do so because of the absence of vehicles on the streets. A colleague of them died in February with coronavirus symptoms. In such a dire situation, we are forced to work from today", he said.

Usually, there were no safety gears for the workers. Due to Coronavirus, the situation turned even worse for the workers as there is no mask, PPE, gloves, and other safety gears, the workers who have been working for a decade or more in ship-breaking yards told The Daily Star.

Mohammad Abu Taher, president of BSBA, said that they kept their yards closed for the last 10 days but began the operations from yesterday at 60 yards.

Asked why they restarted their operation after a pause, he said they did it for the workers who were going through hardship due to the shutdown.

He said there was no government instruction regarding keeping operations close. As many of the workers living in hardship and there were chances for materials to be stolen if yards suspends operations, they restarted their activities.

He claimed to have ensured all safety measures for workers.

AKM Shamsul Arefin, additional secretary of the ministry of industry, said that he saw no problem in starting the yards' operations.

"It is the workers who urged to restart the works as they could not go home for long distances. There are at least 5,000 workers who are living in dearth of daily needs. Besides, the yard owners have bank loans which they need pay", he said.

He said if they follow the health advisory issued by the government there would be no problem at all.

Mohammed Ali Shahin, coordinator of YPSA (Young Power in Social Action), a platform which monitors ship-breaking activities, told The Daily Star that most ship-breaking yards normally do not have arrangement for occupational safety except few.

"There are enough reason to be doubtful regarding Coronavirus safety issues where normal occupational safety is not followed and maintained. We urge government to step up for workers safety and contain the pandemic", he urged.