The government has formulated four Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to improve labour inspection services and thus ensure decent working condition in all workplaces.
The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Wednesday approved the new SOPs.
The SOPs are on registration and licensing of organisations, approval of factory layout plan, labour complaints and investigation, and investigation of occupational accidents, according to a statement.
Calling on labour inspectors and relevant stakeholders to implement these instruments, DIFE Inspector General Shib Nath Roy said, "The new SOPs are aligned with the implementation strategy of DIFE, and these will simplify and enhance the services provided by the department."
"These tools will help DIFE deliver its services to the doorsteps of employers and workers alike," he added.
With technical assistance of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and financial assistance from Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the four SOPs were drafted by a team of experts, the statement added.
The SOP on 'Labour Complaints and Investigation' discussed the types of grievances and labour-related complaints, complaint submission and investigation procedures, and post-investigation activities.
The SOP on 'Approval of Factory Layout Plan' explained application and approval processes for factory layout plans and approval procedures for any modification or expansion in factory layout plan.
The process of registration and licensing of organisations has been explained in the light of labour laws and regulations in the SOP on 'Registration and Licensing of Organisations'.
The SOP on 'Investigation of Occupational Accidents' includes methods and strategies for investigating workplace accidents, accident diagnosis and follow-up steps, accident investigation checklist, and samples of accident investigation reports, it added.
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