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Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE) organized a seminar titled ‘Occupational Health and Safety: Existing situation and the Way Forward” held on 2 May 2010 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium to mark the great May Day 2010. Mr. Md. Nurul Haque, Secretary (Acting), Ministry of Labour and Employment was present as a chief guest while Mr. Aminul Islam, Chief Inspector, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment, Mr. Mamunur Rashid Chowdhuary, General Secretary of Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress (BFTUC) were present as special guest. The participants of that seminar were the official of Labour and Employment Ministry, NGO representatives, trade union leaders & activists, media representatives and relevant stakeholders. Saki Rezwana, Chair person of OSHE presided over the seminar and delivered the welcome speech. |
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Then Dr. Nasreen Khan, Faculty, Occupation & Environment Health Unit, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM) presented a key note paper on “ Occupational Health and Safety: Existing Situation and the Way Forward.” In her presentation, she enlightened on the background of the occupational health and safety, occupational incidents and diseases, the effect of workers illness, the scenario of occupational health and safety in Bangladesh, several statistics on illness in case of workplace incident, research on work environment, death or critical injury in case of accident, role of workers or the leadership of workers, role of labour department, Labour Act, 2006, actions of health department and what action to be taken to establish occupational health and safety. In the open discussion, the participants made relevant questions to the expert based on her presentation.
As part of the speech of special guest in the seminar, Mr. Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury said that occupational health and safety is crucial to develop the labour standard of a country. It is impossible to develop workers rights without ensuring occupational health and safety. He urged to the government to give attention to enact urgent national occupational health and safety policy. In addition, he stressed to formulate an occupational health and safety council with the participation of worker, employer and government to develop the workers’ health and safety in our country.
Then Mr. Aminul Islam expressed the overall situation of occupational health and safety on the government side mentioning the limitations and challenges.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Employment Mr. Md. Nurul Haque told the seminar “The government has already taken initiatives for amendment of Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 as per the protocol of ILO core conventions and for protecting the benefits of the workers.”
Ms. Saki Rezwana urged the government to take necessary amendment of Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 with the provision of fixing labour wage regarding to current market situation. She also urged to the government strengthening of factory inspectorate system and fixing a handsome compensation resulting from workplace incidents as well as ensures to obtain proper compensation for casualties or their families from employer resulting of workplace incident.
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