Collapsed building in Rana Plaza, Bangladesh. Credit: IndustriALL

Bangladesh: counting the cost

08 Sep 2013, By Amirul Haque Amin

People search for survivors after the Rana Plaza building disaster in Bangladesh. Photo: Qamrul Anam Coordinator, IndustriALL IBC

In Bangladesh, more than 100 of the workers injured in the Rana Plaza building collapse are still in hospital. More than 500 children between 3 months and 8 years have lost a parent. Nearly 1,400 injury victims discharged from hospital but need more treatment. There are 1,133 families mourning a dead relative. And 1,500 injured workers waiting for compensation.

The Rana Plaza tragedy happened on the 24^th of April. Five months before, in the Tazreen Fire, there were 112 workers dead and 150 seriously injured. We need safer workplaces!

Now we have the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord – a union Accord.

86 multinational enterprises have already signed the Accord. Today, we are focusing on UK companies who have not signed the Accord. We say to them: stop killing workers; end the death traps; sign the Accord; ensure safe workplaces.

In Bangladesh at present, there are 5,000 garment factories with 3.6 million workers, 85% of them women. They provide 79% of the country’s total exports.

But they are paid a minimum wage of just £24 a month. Even skilled sewing machine operators get between £32 to £42 a month. We need to ensure a living wage. Raise your voices for fairer prices to ensure a living wage!

Not only Bangladeshi workers are suffering. You are also facing a lot of problems. Like social security, pensions, other benefits. We need to fight together.

Let’s raise our voice in unity! Challenge the multinational enterprises jointly! Fight, united, for better conditions, a better life and a better society.

Workers of the world unite!

Campaign action: Tell 8 UK clothing brands to sign the Accord now!