Document Details

A tripartite meeting on fire safety in the work place in Bangladesh was organized jointly by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the ILO on 15 January 2013. It was attended by the tripartite constituents of the ILO- the government, employers and workers. It included the Ministry of Labour and Employment, NCCWE, BEF, BGMEA, BKMEA, BNC and other government ministries and departments. The tripartite meeting discussed different issues related to fire safety. Following the daylong deliberations, a tripartite statement of commitment was adopted and signed at the meeting.

The signed statement expresses great sadness the loss of lives at Tazreen Fashions Ltd. It highlighted the necessity of tripartite actions to prevent similar occurrences in the future. It calls for promoting the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), and other instruments of the ILO relevant to the framework for occupational safety and health;

In the statement, the Government, Employers’ Organizations (BEF, BGMEA and BKMEA) and Workers’ Organizations (NCCWE,BNC) have committed to fully abide by all relevant laws, regulations and procedures aimed at ensuring fire safety at the work place.

They have also committed to actively develop, promote and implement collaborative, participatory, and transparent mechanisms to ensure fire safety in Bangladesh. As a first step in this regard, they affirmed to work together to develop a National Tripartite Action Plan on Fire Safety by the end of February 2013, with a view to taking comprehensive action aimed at preventing any further loss of life, limb and property due to work place fires and fire-related accidents and incidents.

They called upon the international and national partners and stakeholders, including international development organizations, brands/buyers, donor agencies, and non-governmental organizations, to assist them in implementing the National Tripartite Action Plan on Fire Safety, once finalized. In this respect, they requested the International Labour Organization (ILO) to assist them in organizing the necessary consultation meetings and technical support.