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Dead and injured workers

2 April 2006, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By AKM Mustaque Ali, On e-mail
2 April 2006, 18:00 PM
We are deeply shocked at the loss of the lives of workers at KTS Garments in Chittagong due to the negligence of its management towards workplace safety measures. We believe that the highest priority should be given to saving the lives of the workers in the factories. We want more cautious and integrated plans and measures from the factory owners to ensure workplace safety for the garments workers, particularly for female ones. In the name of security of the factory, the inhuman practice of locking workers or blocking exits should immediately come to an end. We are demanding that the BGMEA be strict about the safety compliance to save our garments workers and the industry. All the authorities concerned, including the government, should be strict about compliance with safety measures.

Around a million of the RMG workers find their livelihoods in the garments factories. The workers call upon all concerned national and global actors to ensure that the employment and livelihood of the workers in this sector is retained. The repeated accidents occurring in the sector due to the negligence of the factory management is seen by the workers as a two-fold threat; firstly, it is fatal to the workers safety. Secondly, these accidents tarnish the image of the sector to the global community and impose a risk on livelihood of the workers. As a result, the workers call upon the national and global actors to impose strict monitoring along with required support to ensure that the workplace security improves and Bangladesh RMG sector survives the negative image put forward by some of its factory owners.

We don't want any factory to close down and put the livelihoods of the workers at risk, nor do we want any factory to put down the agenda of workers' safety and put their lives at risk.

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We would highly appreciate if you express your solidarity with the workers' call.