Rana Plaza reparation tranche okayed

The Rana Plaza Coordination Committee (RPCC) has approved the next round of compensation payments, to be disbursed next month among 5,000 claimants, who are dependants of the deceased or injured workers, sources have said.

With this round of payment, the disbursement of compensation money will stand at 70 per cent of the total amount the beneficiaries are entitled to.

 "The next phase of compensation-the remaining 30 per cent of the total amount-will be disbursed among the victims and their families before the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse," International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director Srinivas Reddy told the FE on Thursday.

The RPCC has so far received compensation claims from 2,850 workers and their families, and approved disbursements for 5,000 claimants, dependants of the deceased and injured workers while 581 more have registered with Primark.

The Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund, set up by ILO in January 2014, received around US$ 21 million in donation from the Prime Minister's Fund, global brands, trade unions and civil society in that year. But the victims will have to wait for their full compensation, as $9 million more in donation is still needed to meet the gap in the fund.  

A statement issued by Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) said the compensation amounts were calculated in line with international standards. Despite this, the brands continue to be extremely reluctant to make meaningful payments to ensure that the Rana Plaza victims receive full and fair compensation.

"Now that the next round of payments has been authorised, the fund urgently needs more donations. There will be no more money in it, which means the families will then be placed in a precarious situation of not knowing whether they will ever receive the full compensation that they are entitled to," said Sam Maher of CCC.  

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