DHAKA: Labour and employment secretary Mikail Shipar on Monday said occupational disease hospital will be built at Tongi in Gazipur to ensure healthcare for workers.

He said, “In my job tenure an occupational disease hospital will be setup at Tongi. Safety of workers will not be compromised”.

The secretary was addressing a seminar on industry, health and security on the occasion of May Day at National Press Club city on Monday.

Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) and Safety and Rights Society jointly organized the seminar.
 
BILS projects assistant executive director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed presented the concept paper in the seminar.

Pointing to the officials of factory inspection department, Shipar said scores of multi-storey building construction companies in the city are ignoring security issues at workplaces. It is not acceptable.

He asked inspection department officials to take legal action if anyone ignores the law. Safety of workers will not be compromised at all.

There are many laws, but they are not being adequately implemented. He opined that government offices are responsible for that.

The secretary further said the inspection department for factories has a standard position. A total of 275 first class officers have been assigned in the government organization till date. More appointments are in progress.

“The government is hopeful for the establishment of an industrial park and an economic zone for industries,” he added, “Some 500 acres of land has already been acquired, the work is underway, and an industrial park will be built soon.”

The concept paper reads, “A total of 7,817 workers have been killed in the workplaces while at least 18,818 have been wounded and have been facing disability in past ten years”.

Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Syed Ahmed, Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) president Shah M Abu Zafar, former Director General of Fire Service and the National Health and Safety Council member Brigadier General (retd) Abu Naim Mohammad Shahidullah, among others, addressed the seminar, chaired by BILS acting chairman of Raushan Jahan Sathi.

BDST: 1650 HRS, MAY 04, 2015
RS/RR