Workplace safety in Bangladesh ready-made garment sector: 3 years after the Rana Plaza collapse.
Workplace safety is one of the most important issues in industries worldwide, and is endangered by industrial accidents. Different industrial disasters have resulted in several initiatives worldwide to protect human life and reduce material damage, both nationally and internationally. In Bangladesh, the ready-made garment (RMG) industry is one of the most important export-oriented business sectors, which is facing challenges to ensure workplace safety. The Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh is the consequence of such non-compliance. The accident resulted in different local and global initiatives to address the challenges. This article reviews progress and achievement of the initiatives to reduce vulnerability in the Bangladesh RMG industry within 3 years after the deadly accident. In the long run, the challenge is to maintain momentum already created for achieving sustainability in the RMG sector in Bangladesh and maintaining compliance even after the end of support from external partners.
a Department of Urban and Regional Planning , Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology , Bangladesh.
Uttama
U
Barua
b Department of Civil Engineering , Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh, and International Labour Organization-sponsored Building Safety Assessment on behalf of National Tripartite Committee , Bangladesh.
Mehedi Ahmed
MA
Ansary
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001459:Bangladesh; D004190:Disasters / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D013783:Textile Industry; D017132:Workplace
Bangladesh ready-made garment sector; Rana Plaza collapse; labour right; labour standard; manmade disaster; workplace safety