Survivors of the Rana Plaza building collapse are at serious risk of destitution after one year of the tragedy mainly due to non-payment of the compensation by the brands, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Wednesday.
"One year after Rana Plaza collapse, far too many victims and their families are at serious risk of destitution," the HRW said in a statement, quoting its deputy Asia director Phil Robertson.
International garment brands should be helping the injured and the dependents of dead workers who manufactured their clothes," he added.
Taking this into consideration, the HRW also called upon the international garment brands to speed up their support to make these victims' fund work to help thousands of people affected by this disaster.
"Companies should recognise this fund is the most appropriate mechanism for ensuring that the right help goes to the right people, since it has been set up by all the relevant stakeholders: the Bangladesh government, industry bodies, the ILO, trade unions, NGOs and some of the brands themselves," Robertson was quoted as saying.
The report said survivors of the Rana Plaza building collapse one year ago in Bangladesh are still suffering from their injuries and loss of income. International companies that sourced garment from five factories operating in the Rana Plaza building are not contributing enough to the financial trust fund set up to support survivors and the families of those who died.
Citing the data of the government, HRW said more than 1,100 people died and about 2,500 were rescued from the disaster when the building collapsed on April 24, 2013. The target for the fund, which is chaired by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is US$40 million, but only $15 million has been raised so far. On April 22, 2014, the government announced that victims would receive their first payment of $645 each from the fund.
Survivors and relatives told HRW that they continue to suffer from life-changing injuries, psychological trauma, and a loss of income. Some said they were struggling to feed their families and send their children to school. Survivors also apprised HRW of the poor working conditions in the factories prior to the collapse. The eight-storey building housed factories supplying garment to major brands in the US and Europe.
Of the $15 million raised for the fund so far, a single firm, Primark, has donated $8 million, according to the fund's website. Some companies that were not doing business with Rana Plaza have also contributed to the fund. By contrast, 15 brands whose clothing and brand labels were found in the rubble of the factory by journalists and labour activists have not contributed to the fund.
The fund will establish a systematic and transparent claims process so that all victims, their families, and dependents receive the long-term support they need. The fund is open to any company, individual, or organisation that "wishes to contribute as a way of expressing solidarity and compassion with the Rana Plaza victims," the fund's website explains.
According to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, companies have a responsibility "to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly linked to their operations," and to take remedial action should abuses occur. The UN Global Compact encourages businesses to adopt sustainable and socially responsible practices in line with international human rights standards.
Human Rights Watch has written to the companies that have not paid into the fund, asking them to explain why.
The HRW also wrote to 14 companies that are listed as donors to the Rana Plaza Trust Fund, asking them if they plan to take any further steps to mitigate the plight of injured workers or families of deceased workers.
Nine of these companies replied to Human Rights Watch explaining why they contributed to the fund. Some said they had done so though they were not linked to Rana Plaza. Britta Schrage-Oliva of KIK, said she hoped her company's contribution of $ 0.5 million would encourage others to donate, the report added.
Referring to various survivors HRW said it had recently spoke to 44 of them and the relatives of the deceased, and found that all had received some financial support, but in most instances this was inadequate. The assistance came from various sources but the amount received by each may not have been sufficient, with little opportunity for victims to seek adjustments.
The survivors who lost limbs received saving certificates from Bangladesh Prime Minister's Office, guaranteeing a monthly income of $130-$190. But doctors amputated both of Rabeya Begum's legs in December, last year months after the saving certificates were distributed by the government. So instead of receiving a guaranteed monthly income, Rabeya, 35, said she got about $4,500 from various donors. The money has almost run out, she added.
CCC statement
Meanwhile, another FE report adds: A statement issued by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) said the brands that were sourcing from Rana Plaza factories failed to provide adequate funding to ensure compensation for all victims and their families even after a year of the tragic incident.
Labour organisations and campaigners demanded brands to pay to the Donor Trust Fund, which still remains woefully under-funded, so that the Rana Plaza disaster survivors and their families receive compensation to cover loss of income and medical expenses.
A year after the collapse brands and retailers have contributed or committed just US$ 15 million to the Trust Fund, just one third of the $40 million needed, it added.
"Brands are failing workers a second time. First they failed to ensure the factories, from which they bought products, were safe. Now they are failing the survivors and the families of those who lost loved ones, by not contributing significantly to the Fund. But now, failing to adequately contribute, brands are making the workers suffer again," said Ineke Zeldenrust from CCC.
"In order to ensure the full $40 million is reached, we also call upon the Bangladesh government and employers to increase their donation, and the European and the US governments and the EU to take immediate measures to ensure brands from their countries pay what is necessary to the fund," she added.
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