Set compensation standard for dead, injured workers: Speakers

Speakers at a view-exchange meeting on Tuesday urged the government to set standards for paying compensation to deceased and injured workers, caused by workplace accidents, in line with ILO conventions.
The call was made at the meeting held at the National Press Club in the city.
Sramik Nirapatta Forum (SNF) organized the meeting on 'the ninth anniversary of Rana Plaza tragedy and what to do for ensuring sufficient compensation for workers'.
Workplaces need to be safe to stop the recurrence of industrial accidents such as Rana Plaza collapse, said Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan, a member of the parliamentary standing committee on labour ministry.
Speaking on the occasion, SNF convenor Dr Hamida Hossain said there must be a standard to compensate the workers so that they do not move here and there to be properly compensated.
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies joint general secretary Dr Wazedul Islam Khan said compensation can't be based on the amount of money.
He said ILO conventions 102 and 121 should be the baseline for fixing lifetime compensation equal to lifelong earnings.
Samajtantrik Sramik Front president Razekuzzaman Ratan said compensation for workplace accidents is not as per the need of current reality and the amount must be fixed as per the ILO conventions.
Sramik Karmochari Oikya Parishad leader Kamrul Hassan alleged that workplace accidents take place and workers die and suffer injuries because factory authorities do not comply with the required laws.
Though workers keep running the wheels of the economy, they do not get due respect, said SNF acting member-secretary Sekandar Ali Mina.
Speakers at the event stressed the need for speedy settlement of cases to help the workers get compensation as early as possible.
They also called for strengthening the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments.

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