Now a help line for Bangladesh workers' safety & rights

16 Mar '15

2 min read

To help readymade garment factory workers to make and resolve grievances relating to workplace safety or workers’ rights, a telephone help line has been launched with the support of the International Labour Organisation and the Norwegian government.

The Help Line – 0800 44 55 000 – will be run by the department of inspection for factories and establishments (DIFE). Calls received on this number will be logged and forwarded to either DIFE, the fire service and civil defence department or the directorate of labour to deal with. The caller will then be contacted with a response.

Initially, the help line will target garment workers in Ashulia area in the suburbs of Dhaka, and once it proves successful in this area, it will be made available to workers across the country.

The ceremony to launch the help line was presided over by Mujibul Haque, Bangladesh’s minister of state for labour and employment.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Srinivas B Reddy, country director ILO, said, “Over the last two years, unprecedented efforts have been made to enhance workplace safety and improve workers’ rights in the readymade garment sector in Bangladesh.”

He continued, “By providing workers with the chance to air grievances this Help Line gives a voice to the voiceless. It will also play an important role in facilitating better work place relations by helping address grievances that may otherwise escalate into mass protests or court cases.” (RKS)

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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