A staggering 8,298 workers have died in workplace accidents over the past decade. An additional 113 workers lost their lives due to workplace abuse. Furthermore, in the last year alone (2024), 820 workers died in workplace accidents and due to mistreatment.
These findings are highlighted in a draft report by the Labor Reform Commission.
The commission submitted its report to Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday (April 21).
The report states that between 1990 and 2012, 33 major fire incidents occurred in garment factories. The 1990 fire at Saraka Garments resulted in 32 deaths.
This was followed by 62 deaths in the 2006 KTS fire, 124 deaths in the 2012 Tazreen Fashions fire, and the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in 2013, which claimed the lives of 1,134 workers and injured over 2,500. More recently, 54 people died in the 2021 Hashem Foods fire.
The report further notes that while the global spotlight is intensely focused on the ready-made garment industry, the shipbreaking industry in Chattogram lacks such scrutiny.
Consequently, accidents causing dismemberment, deteriorating health, and even death in the hazardous shipbreaking sector often go unnoticed.
Over the past 10 years, 147 workers have died in accidents in this industry, yet compensation has reportedly not been provided. The report also points out that the Dutch-Bangla industrial sector is severely damaging the coastal environment, nature, and ecosystems.
The report also emphasizes that the deaths of farmers or construction workers in the workplace receive little to no attention.
According to the report, farmers in Bangladesh, ranging from agricultural laborers to small and medium-sized farmers, are burdened by various loan schemes. Tragically, some are resorting to suicide due to their inability to repay microloans.
