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The rate of workplace accidents in the country's informal sectors has increased in recent times despite a fall in formal ones stressing the need for required measures to ensure safety and compliances in all sectors.
A total of 1,432 workplace fatalities were recorded in 2023 with highest 1,103 deaths in informal sectors.
Some 502 workplace injuries were also recorded in the same year.
The high risk sectors included transport sector that recorded 637 deaths, 220 day labourers and 149 deaths from construction sector in 2023.
Md Matiur Rahman, joint inspector of general of DIFE, presented the statistics compiled by OSHE Foundation on Monday at the OSH Conference 2025 titled 'Transforming Occupational Safety and Health (OSH): The Future of OSH in Bangladesh' held in a city hotel.
Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment in association with International Labour Organization (ILO) organised the event to mark National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Day 2025.
Speaking at the event, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, head of Labour Reform Commission, said the number of workplace accidents in formal sectors has decreased while the situation is just opposite in informal sector.
Expressing concern over the situation, he said the number of accidents in informal sectors in 2024 is also higher and added required transformation has been needed in this area with recognising all workers that would ensure many basic rights.
"Occupational safety is a fundamental human right - not a matter of negotiation. Without ensuring this right, industrial sustainability is impossible," he added.
Labour Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain said whenever a crisis hits the industrial sector, they found none to take responsibility, leaving key officials floating without direction.
"Whenever a crisis arises, no one is around," he said, raising question over the availability of the tripartite mechanism and stressed effective teamwork during a crisis period.
He also stressed coordination among other ministries with labour ministry to address labour and safety related issues.
He said in many garment factories, workers' wages have remained pending for six months to three years while representatives of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BAT) came to him regarding dismissal of workers that took place in 2019.
Speaking over informal sectors, he said those must be brought under regulations though the task is very difficult.
Labour Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman said Labour Reform Commission has made a number of recommendations, and they are committed to going by those to take the standards to international level.
Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO Bangladesh Country Director said Bangladesh has made advancement in promoting a culture of OSH in workplaces and the ILO supports Bangladesh in its journey towards safer and healthier workplaces.
Md Imrul Mohsin, inspector general of DIFE, said owners, workers and the government often consider each other as opponent and this mindset has to be changed.
munni_fe@yahoo.com