The government in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation has taken a move to formulate an inspection policy for the factories and establishments to upgrade the current traditional inspection system to an international standard. The policy will ensure modern, effective and prevention-oriented labour inspection and occupational safety and will bring all the industries under a comprehensive inspection system, a labour ministry source said.
People involved with the process observed that a comprehensive inspection policy could be a safeguard for local industry as it will be able to keep the industry free from the international interference regarding safety inspection.
The objects of the policy will be maximum use of modern technology throughout all inspection processes, including creating modern electronic relevant data bases and transforming the readymade garment sector into a stronger, safer and more sustainable one, sources said.
Very recently, the government has taken the initiative to formulate the inspection policy for the first time styled National Factories and Establishment Inspection Policy.
The ILO has prepared a primary draft of the policy in December last year and sent it to the labour ministry.
Recently, the Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishments received the draft and has been working on it.
‘We have received a draft of the policy made by the ILO and now we are working on it.
After scrutinising the draft we will prepare the final draft of the policy in line with the ILO,’ the DIFE inspector general Syed Ahmed told New Age on Sunday.
He said that the inspection department of the government could not play its role properly due to shortage of manpower and so after the Rana Plaza tragedy overseas inspectors were allowed to inspect the garment factories in Bangladesh.
The inspection policy will be the reflection of expectation and the aim of the government is to bring the inspection system under a structure, Ahmed said.
‘If we can achieve competence in the inspection of factories and establishments we would not allow foreign inspectors in Bangladesh,’ the DIFE chief said.
He hoped that the inspection policy will ensure effective, credible, accountable and transparent labour inspection and sustainable development.
-With New Age input
