The Bangladesh chapter of IndustriAll Global Union yesterday demanded Tk 28.32 lakh in compensation for each of the apparel workers who died or went missing in the Rana Plaza collapse on April 24.
“Many victims are yet to be compensated properly though the factory collapse occurred around six months ago,” Roy Ramesh Chandra, general secretary of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council, said at a press briefing at the National Press Club.
IndustriAll estimated that $71 million or Tk 547 crore would be needed to compensate and rehabilitate the victims of Rana Plaza.
The collapse of the building which housed five garment factories has so far brought 1,135 deaths, according to IndustriAll. Another 318 went missing and 1,723 were injured.
“We have estimated the compensation package for all these segments,” he said.
Of the amount, 45 percent will have to be paid by retailers, 28 percent by owners, 18 percent by BGMEA and the remainder by the government, he said.
The formula sets out clear guidelines for payment to families of dead and injured workers and takes into account loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and also medical costs, funeral costs and other important family expenses, he said.
IndustriAll suggested around Tk 21.20 lakh for the earnings of the lost work years for 25 years, and Tk 5 lakh for pain and suffering, as suggested by the International Labour Organisation.
Around Tk 2.12 lakh is being sought for education costs of up to the higher secondary level for each of the victims’ children.
To press home the demands, IndustriAll yesterday announced a human chain, a sit-in and a roundtable as part of a month-long campaign.
It will also hold a garment workers’ gathering on the premises of the Shaheed Minar on October 24, to mark the passing of six months of the deadly building collapse.
“There has been a host of discussions, both locally and globally, on the issue of compensation for Rana Plaza victims. But most brands have still failed to make concrete commitments.”
Only nine brands, including Loblaw, Primark, Mascot and Bon Marché showed good faith and pledged to compensate at a recent meeting in Geneva, he said.
Primark additionally agreed to pay Tk 15,000 to each of the 3,629 victims for three months before Eid-ul-Ahza, according to Chandra. The British retailer made a similar donation earlier in June.
“Unfortunately, most of the leading brands including Carrefour, Inditex, JC Penny and Walmart have not made any commitment.”
Nazrul Islam Khan, chairman of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council, also spoke.
“Many victims are yet to be compensated properly though the factory collapse occurred around six months ago,” Roy Ramesh Chandra, general secretary of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council, said at a press briefing at the National Press Club.
IndustriAll estimated that $71 million or Tk 547 crore would be needed to compensate and rehabilitate the victims of Rana Plaza.
The collapse of the building which housed five garment factories has so far brought 1,135 deaths, according to IndustriAll. Another 318 went missing and 1,723 were injured.
“We have estimated the compensation package for all these segments,” he said.
Of the amount, 45 percent will have to be paid by retailers, 28 percent by owners, 18 percent by BGMEA and the remainder by the government, he said.
The formula sets out clear guidelines for payment to families of dead and injured workers and takes into account loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and also medical costs, funeral costs and other important family expenses, he said.
IndustriAll suggested around Tk 21.20 lakh for the earnings of the lost work years for 25 years, and Tk 5 lakh for pain and suffering, as suggested by the International Labour Organisation.
Around Tk 2.12 lakh is being sought for education costs of up to the higher secondary level for each of the victims’ children.
To press home the demands, IndustriAll yesterday announced a human chain, a sit-in and a roundtable as part of a month-long campaign.
It will also hold a garment workers’ gathering on the premises of the Shaheed Minar on October 24, to mark the passing of six months of the deadly building collapse.
“There has been a host of discussions, both locally and globally, on the issue of compensation for Rana Plaza victims. But most brands have still failed to make concrete commitments.”
Only nine brands, including Loblaw, Primark, Mascot and Bon Marché showed good faith and pledged to compensate at a recent meeting in Geneva, he said.
Primark additionally agreed to pay Tk 15,000 to each of the 3,629 victims for three months before Eid-ul-Ahza, according to Chandra. The British retailer made a similar donation earlier in June.
“Unfortunately, most of the leading brands including Carrefour, Inditex, JC Penny and Walmart have not made any commitment.”
Nazrul Islam Khan, chairman of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council, also spoke.
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