The Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety, a platform of North American brands, has decided to double the compensation benefits for workers who are displaced due to factory remediation.
“The Alliance will extend compensation benefits to workers from two months to up to four months’ wages for workers displaced as a result of factory remediation, effective immediately,” said a statement of Alliance released on Thursday.
“Ensuring that no garment worker has to put herself at risk to earn a living is our top priority, but we believe protecting and supporting workers must go hand in hand,” said Ellen Tauscher, Alliance Independent Chair and former US Congresswoman.
“We are committed to ensuring, as factory safety improvements are made, the workers are not expected to pay the price,” she added.
For structural repairs when necessary, worker’s wages should be protected as per law of the Land, said Wajedul Islam Khan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra.
While compensation, whatever the amount, is not more valuable than a life, we applaud the Alliance for taking this critical step to protect and respond to the needs of the workers and their families, he added.
In May, the Alliance has paid 50% wages to over 1,000 workers in partnership with factory owners to workers displaced as a result of factory closures. The benefits are made possible through a $5 million Worker Support Fund established by the Alliance and its member brands.
The Alliance had completed safety assessment of 601 RMG units, from which they source products and three factories have been shut for remediation as per their recommendations as it found serious structural faults.
The experts of Alliance referred a total of nine factories to the review panel comprised of representatives from the government, Accord, Alliance, BUET, BGMEA and BKMEA and suggested evacuation as per their critical findings.
Out of nine, the review committee has suspended production at three units, partially suspended operation at four factories and the decisions on rest two factories remained pending.
The issue of fire, electrical and structural safety came under spotlight following the deadly collapse of Rana Plaza last year, which killed 1,135 workers and injured over 2,500.
