SRS: Over 500 labours died in seven months of 2021
The survey found that the highest number of deaths occurred in the transport sector
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Tribune Report
Publish : 01 Jan 2022, 12:53 AMUpdate : 01 Jan 2022, 12:52 AM
At least 538 labours were killed in 399 workplace accidents across the country in 2021, said Safety and Rights Society (SRS).
In 2020, 432 workers died in 373 workplace accidents said the non-government labour rights organization.
SRS Executive Director Sekendar Ali Mina said that they are collecting the data from 25 national and local daily since 2007 and unfortunately, they have found that the reasons and pattern of deaths have remained same.
“It means a very little change has been ensured in aspects of rights of the labourers,” he observed adding that deaths are mostly reported in transport accidents, construction sites and natural calamities like lightening.
He said that in the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, many workers could not work for about five months from April to August due to various restrictions including lay-offs, but the number of deaths in workplace accidents have increased.
One of the most dreadful incidents in the labour sector was the fire at the Shezan juice factory in Rupganj, where 52 workers burnt to death. Besides, five workers were killed in a fire at Romana Rubber Factory in Soarighat and other five workers died from a fire at a plastic factory at Santahar in Bogra.
Seven workers died during a protest in Basahkhali as well.
The report did not include the deaths of workers outside the workplace or in road accidents on the way to or returning from workplaces. However, on-duty workers who were killed in road accidents have been counted in this survey.
The survey found that the highest number of deaths occurred in the transport sector as 150 transport workers were killed in road crashes.
Some 138 workers were also killed in the construction sector while 112 workers were killed in manufacturing sector which included garment, plastic factory, ship breaking, steel/re-rolling mills.
Besides, 86 workers died at service sector which included hotels, workshops, power supply organizations while 52 workers in agriculture sector killed during the time.
“Decent working environment is must for a sustainable development in and every expenditure for ensuring the safety of workers should be treated as an investment,” SRS Executive Director Mina said.
SRS: Over 500 labours died in seven months of 2021
At least 538 labours were killed in 399 workplace accidents across the country in 2021, said Safety and Rights Society (SRS).
In 2020, 432 workers died in 373 workplace accidents said the non-government labour rights organization.
SRS Executive Director Sekendar Ali Mina said that they are collecting the data from 25 national and local daily since 2007 and unfortunately, they have found that the reasons and pattern of deaths have remained same.
“It means a very little change has been ensured in aspects of rights of the labourers,” he observed adding that deaths are mostly reported in transport accidents, construction sites and natural calamities like lightening.
He said that in the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, many workers could not work for about five months from April to August due to various restrictions including lay-offs, but the number of deaths in workplace accidents have increased.
One of the most dreadful incidents in the labour sector was the fire at the Shezan juice factory in Rupganj, where 52 workers burnt to death. Besides, five workers were killed in a fire at Romana Rubber Factory in Soarighat and other five workers died from a fire at a plastic factory at Santahar in Bogra.
Seven workers died during a protest in Basahkhali as well.
The report did not include the deaths of workers outside the workplace or in road accidents on the way to or returning from workplaces. However, on-duty workers who were killed in road accidents have been counted in this survey.
The survey found that the highest number of deaths occurred in the transport sector as 150 transport workers were killed in road crashes.
Some 138 workers were also killed in the construction sector while 112 workers were killed in manufacturing sector which included garment, plastic factory, ship breaking, steel/re-rolling mills.
Besides, 86 workers died at service sector which included hotels, workshops, power supply organizations while 52 workers in agriculture sector killed during the time.
“Decent working environment is must for a sustainable development in and every expenditure for ensuring the safety of workers should be treated as an investment,” SRS Executive Director Mina said.