Ensuring job security of the worker who discloses the non compliance of the safety and
security measure
A recent study, conducted on 256 workers by CARE Bangladesh, revealed that around 39% of
them believe high posts are allotted only for men, while 40% identified misbehaviour of
supervisors as the reason behind their dissatisfaction at work. The study also showed that 79% of
workers were employed without an appointment letter and 75% live in unhealthy conditions. The
study also concluded that 42% of labourers experienced a fire incident at least once during their
career. 62 The RMG factories operating in the export processing zones (EPZs) are officially
outside the scope of the BNA, 2006 and system of labour management relations. Overall, the
entire industry seems to be particularly affected by the lack of safe and sound industrial relations
and collective bargaining proceeding towards a downwards spiral of lack of recognition of
workers' rights which is neither economically nor socially sustainable.63
Usually it is found that the workers do not disclose any fault in the safety and security measure
of their factories as in this case they may be fired from the job by the employers. As a result most
often the inspector fails to identify the fault. To deal with this problem there should have a
provision providing that the worker who discloses any such fault shall not be fired from his job
under any circumstances. Inspectors also should use ‘Observation Method’ to collect
information. When they interview workers, workers become worried about their job and do not
provide accurate information. If Inspectors use observation method to gather information, the
output will be biasfree.
Empirical output and recommendation
Though 50% of the workers feel that they are satisfied with present safety situations, remaining
50% are either somewhat satisfied or not satisfied. Most of the workers think that their feeling of
safety depends on strength of factory structure and accidents like fire. Around 56% of the
62
Tazlina Zamila Khan, ‗Female RMG workers stress education to attain full potentials‘ , Dhaka Tribune (March
10, 2014), available at http://www.dhakatribune.com/education/2014/mar/10/female-rmg-workers-stress-educationattain-full-potentials#sthash.L8I85PYv.pOfxbbK1.dpuf, last accessed 4 June 2014.
63
See link at <https://erecruit.ilo.org/public/hrd-cl-vac-view.asp?jobinfo_uid_c=28740&vaclng=en>, accessed on
June 2, 2014.