IBC demands compensation for Rana Plaza victims, families

FE Team | Published: April 02, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

FE Report
IndustriAll Bangladesh Council (IBC) demanded on Tuesday compensation for victims and families of Rana Plaza tragedy based on the magnitude of sufferings and loss of probable earnings.
The IBC also announced month- long programmes including workers' gathering, human chain, multi-stakeholders' discussion, meetings and seminars ahead of the first anniversary of the country's deadliest industrial disaster at Rana Plaza that killed at least 1,137 workers mainly to exert pressure on buyers to join the compensation fund .
Roy Ramesh Chandra, secretary general of IBC made the compensation demand while reading out the programmes at a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club in the city. Chairman of the organisation Nazrul Islam Khan, was also present during the briefing.
"The workers and victims' families are undergoing an untold suffering but they are yet to be compensated," he said adding most of the brands that sourced from the Rana Plaza factories are reluctant to join the compensation fund.
He called on those brands to join the fund before April 24.
According to IBC, a Rana Plaza worker is supposed to get compensation worth around Tk 5.76 million if his or her monthly wage is Tk 6,000.
The IBC has estimated the amount considering half of his average annual wage, present inflation rate or annual increment announced in the recent wage structure and in line with the ILO convention 121.
Replying to a question, the IBC secretary general said 10 brands out of 26 that sourced from the Rana Plaza factories have agreed to contribute to the $40 million compensation fund.
A total of $8.0 million has so far been deposited in the fund while Primark, the UK-based retailer, announced that it would begin long-term payments worth $9 million to 580 workers of the New Wave Bottoms and also contribute $1.0 million to the Rana Plaza Donors Fund, he added.
When asked, he said the contribution by Walmart is charity not compensation.
He called on the brands that are yet to join the fund especially the Walmart to contribute a significant amount to the fund.
Replying to a question, the IBC Chairman Mr Khan said, there is no proper information on the garment workers as labour law is not fully implemented.
"Owners don't provide appointment letters to the workers when they recruit them and that is why there is no proper information about the workers especially in the case of Rana Plaza," he added.
"Without an appointment letter, it becomes difficult to prove him or her as a worker," he said demanding allowing trade union, full implementation of labour law and providing appointment letter at the time of recruitment.
The IBC also demanded compensation for the victims in Tazreen Fashions and Aswad Garments according to the compensation fund and urged the Bangladesh government, brands, buyers, BGMEA and factory owners to ensure the compensation for the Rana Plaza victims.