Bangladesh garment sector scheme now covers commuting accidents

The governance board of the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) pilot during its 8^th meeting held on May 13, 2024, unanimously approved the inclusion of ‘commuting accidents’ as industrial accidents, making them eligible for compensation starting from July 1, 2024. 

The decision was unanimously supported by employers' organisations, workers' organisations and government agencies who are members of the EIS pilot governance board.

ILO technical experts provided insights into key aspects of the technical and financial aspects of such an expansion, including conditions for considering commuting accidents as workplace accidents but keeping separate records as these accidents take place outside the factory and not identifying them with any factory. Additionally, they presented a strong case for the financial sustainability of the coverage of accidents under the EIS pilot. 

Article 7 of the ILO Employment Injury Benefits Convention No. 121 (C-121) requires countries to define industrial accidents, including the conditions under which a commuting accident is considered to be an industrial accident. Adapting this measure brings the Bangladesh EIS one-step in closer alignment with the requirements outlined in C-121, ILO said in a press release.

In the ambit of the EIS pilot, commuting accidents are considered accidents sustained while on the direct way between the place of work and the workers’ local residence. With the inclusion of commuting accidents in the EIS pilot, the pilot now covers two out of three recommended vulnerabilities, with ‘Occupational Diseases’ as the only outstanding vulnerability. A process has however started to develop the national capacity and data on occupational diseases.

"Since 2022, the EIS pilot has been compensating injured workers and the dependents of deceased workers in the ready-made garments sector for work-related accidents. With the inclusion of commuting accidents, the initiative is expected to provide enhanced protection to workers, and improve industrial relations,” said Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO’s country director for Bangladesh.

ILO and GIZ are jointly providing technical support to the government of Bangladesh, employers’, and workers’ organisations in implementing the Employment Injury Scheme pilot. The ILO initiative is funded by the governments of the Netherlands and Canada, whereas the GIZ initiative is funded by the German federal ministry for economic cooperation and development (BMZ).

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)