[Policy briefing] Employment injury insurance: key to raising labour standards in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh has made huge strides to improve the safety of its ready-made garment (RMG) factories. But even with the best prevention, industrial accidents do occur. An occupational injury or death can lead to secondary health problems and financial hardship, unless workers and their families have access to employment injury compensation. Dr Rebecca Prentice, an expert on labour in the global garment industry, has completed a three-year study of compensation after the deadly collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory building in 2013. Her study found that the ‘rights-based’ compensation paid to Rana Plaza survivors can serve as a model for calculating payments, but a permanent solution must take the form of employment injury insurance (EII) with the robust support of government and industry. As the world’s second-largest apparel exporter, Bangladesh is well positioned to lead on workers’ rights to social protection. With the combined efforts of employers, global brands and the government, employment injury protection can enhance the reputation and sustainability of Bangladesh’s RMG industry.