The state of Bangladesh RMG industry

April 28, the ‘World Day for Safety and Health at Work’ has been observed globally every year since 2003 to promote safe, healthy, and decent working conditions for all. This day is also commemorated as the ‘International Workers Memorial Day’ for the Dead and Injured Workers, organised worldwide by the trade union movements since 1996.

This day serves as a reminder of the importance of preventing workplace accidents, injuries, and ill health. It also encourages dialogue among workers, employers, buyers, and the government to strengthen safety standards. In the context of Bangladesh, this day holds special significance, particularly for industries such as the readymade Garments (RMG) sector, where workplace health and safety have improved tremendously but remain a pressing concern. By reflecting on past challenges and recognising ongoing improvements, we can reaffirm our commitment to creating a safer workplace for all workers in the future.

According to the ILO data (ILOSTAT), workplace accidents and diseases result in substantial loss of life globally. Annually, around 2.8 million workers die from work-related causes, with 2.4 million deaths from work-related diseases and approximately 280,000 fatalities from workplace accidents. In addition, over 374 million workers are affected by non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses.

United States (2023): There, 5283 fatal work injuries were recorded. (Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Department of Labor, United States of America.

United Kingdom (2023-2024): 138 Fatalities from workplace accidents, with approximately 13000 deaths annually linked to work-related diseases and illness. [British Safety Council]

India (2017): Report indicates around 48000 workers die annually from Occupational hazards. [Times of India, November 20, 2017)

Bangladesh (2022): Total fatalities 1034. (Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies- Bills)

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) noted 4 workers' deaths in the RMG sector in 2022, one casualty and 18 suffered burn injuries in 2023, but no specific data is available. (Financial Express, 31 August 2023)

Bangladesh’s readymade Garments (RMG) industry and Workplace Safety: The RMG sector in Bangladesh is the second-largest apparel exporter globally. Global garment exports totaled $ 441 billion, with Bangladesh accounting for a 6.4 per cent share, making it the world’s second-largest exporter after China, which held a 27.4 per cent share. Garment exports accounted for 81.2 per cent of Bangladesh's export earnings and employed close to 4 million workers; some 60 per cent are women. However, it has long struggled with workplace safety issues. Tragic incidents like the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 and the Tazreen Fashion fire in 2012 exposed severe shortcomings in safety measures, regulatory enforcement and factory conditions. Nevertheless, the country has taken considerable steps to improve workplace safety, particularly in RMG Industries.

The ‘European Union Sustainability Compact’ was launched in 2013 as a collaborative initiative among the European Union, the Bangladesh government, the ILO, the United States and Canada, alongside employers, trade unions, buyers and other key stakeholders. It is worth mentioning that 85 per cent of Bangladesh’s garment exports are destined for Compact partner countries. The principal objectives of the compact are respect for labour rights, structural integrity of buildings and occupational safety and health, and responsible business conduct. The noteworthy progress under the EU's Sustainability Compact includes:

Factory inspections: Over 3,700 garment factories have been inspected, significantly improving safety measures. Several national and international organizations are collectively executing this magnificent initiative.

Legal reforms: The Bangladesh Labor Act of 2006, along with its subsequent amendments, time and again and associated rules and regulations, and policies outlined comprehensive provisions and guidelines considering the international standards to ensure Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for workers. The Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015 and the ‘National OSH Policy 2013’ help implement labour rights and resolve labour issues.

Trade union growth: Despite challenges, the number of registered trade unions in the RMG sector has increased.

Wage increases: The minimum wage for garment workers has been increased multiple times to ensure fair compensation.

Government's initiatives: The Ministry of Labour and Employment is the lead agency for OSH Policy and enforcement in the workplace, including that of RMG. The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) is the primary body responsible for inspecting factories and enforcing OSH regulations, providing training, awareness and guidance on workplace safety. The Labour Inspection Management Application (LIMA) is a digital platform developed to enhance inspection efficiency. Fire Service and Civil Defence, conducts fire risk assessments and inspections, and provides training and capacity building, and emergency response services. Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and City Corporations are involved in building safety approvals and structural integrity checks. The Ministry of Industries supports the development and implementation of industrial safety standards. Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) develops and enforces standards for equipment, PPE and building materials. The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) encourages compliance with international safety standards to improve export competitiveness. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) supports occupational health programs, especially through public health infrastructure, providing health care and first aid services to the RMG workers.

Non-government initiatives: Stichting Bangladesh Accord Foundation (ACCORD on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, transitioned to RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) in 2020, is an independent, national tripartite organisation comprised of international brands and retailers, national and international trade unions, and RGM industries of Bangladesh, which is the largest safety inspections and monitoring and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Training provider in Bangladesh. It has inspected 1,820 factories initially on structural, electrical, and fire safety, where it has detected 155,544 safety concerns since its inception. It is promising that the factory authority has already corrected 124,279 issues; 12,347 issues are pending verification, 8,918 issues are in progress status. The remediation progress rate is 86.16 per cent.

On the other hand,1,739 factories enrolled in Occupational Safety and Health Training Programs, where the capacity of 21,162 members of the Safety Committee has been enhanced who have identified and resolved 42,931 OSH issues through a unique concept ‘walk-through’.  It is a matter of pride that this organisation reached 27,20,000+ employees in the RMG factories with basic information on safety and health hazards and labour rights, a groundbreaking example for the rest of the world. It develops an independent, impartial complaint mechanism where workers from the factory can raise their occupational safety and health concerns. All of the initiatives are currently active programmes that make the RMG sector in Bangladesh a better, reliable, and more sustainable sourcing country, where Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) are safer and are growing rapidly.

To improve workplace conditions in the RMG sector in Bangladesh, the International Labour Organization (ILO) focuses on building and fire safety, labour inspections reform, OSH training awareness, law reform and enforcement, rehabilitation and compensation for injured workers.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has made several significant contributions to the improvement of Occupational Safety and Health in the RMG sector in Bangladesh, particularly in capacity building and training, development of OSH tools and guidelines, strengthening institutions and policy support, infrastructure and fire safety improvements, workers' empowerment and rights. The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, later transitioned to NIRAPON, focuses on factory inspection and safety remediation, monitoring and verification, strengthening local institutions, and collaborative advocacy. They have reached 1.6 million RMG workers with basic health and safety information.

The inspiring part of the story is that, over the past decade, the health and safety culture in Bangladesh’s RMG industry has improved significantly. It is now home to 233 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified factories by US Green Building Council, the highest number of green garment factories in the world, Platinum-93, Gold-126, Silver-10, Certified-4, 60 of the top 100 LEED-certified factories worldwide reflecting improvements in factory conditions and environmental standards of Bangladesh. 

Despite some challenges, to qualify for the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status, Bangladesh requires further advancements of labour rights and governance, including workplace safety and health and environment. Bangladesh’s graduation from the least developed country status (LDC graduation) by 2026, ongoing collaborations among the government, factory owners, international buyers, trade unions and development partners are essential to ensure the sustainability of this progress.