In a
statement on Monday, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said there was no room for complacency despite progress.
A devastating fire swept through the Tampaco Foils Limited on Saturday, on the outskirts of Dhaka, leaving 33 workers dead. It was Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster since the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse that killed over 1,100 people, mostly garment workers.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from an explosion and fire at Tampaco Foils Limited in Bangladesh on September 10,” Ryder said, extending sympathy to the families of the victims.
He noted that Bangladesh had taken steps to strengthen workplace safety over the past three and a half years but the efforts mainly focussed on the export-oriented ready-made garment sector.
A fire at a RMG factory at Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, killed over 100 workers in 2012. It was followed by a collapse of multi-storied Rana Plaza in the same area.
The ILO director-general said significant work had been directed towards enhancing the capacity of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department, as well as the country’s labour inspectorate.
Improved working conditions and safety standards across all industrial sectors also depend on strengthening these organisations, he added.
Ryder in his statement said Saturday's fire at the food and cigarette packaging factory highlights that “there can be no room for complacency and much ground still needs to be covered”.
He pointed out that strengthening the capacity of regulatory oversight bodies is key as is the need to bring together diverse stakeholders to establish a stronger culture of preventative safety in all industrial sectors.
“The ILO is ready to further support Bangladesh’s efforts to ensure the safety of its workers,” he added.
*
Tampaco death toll rises to 33
*
Tongi factory boiler blast, fire kill 24
Leave a Comment