Four thousand victims of the Rana Plaza building collapse, who got themselves registered at Savar Cantonment School on Friday, will get Tk 15,000 each, equivalent to their three months’ salary, as compensation. UK firm Primark, which got its apparels from one of the five garment factories located at the Rana Plaza building that collapsed on April 24, will provide the assistance.
The registration started at 8 am, said an official of the Industry of All Bangladesh Council (IABC). Those who are still recuperating in different hospitals will be registered later during the visits by the IABC representatives.
IABC general secretary Ramesh Chandra Roy told reporters that the event was organized with financial supports from the British retailer Primark.
He said the IABC had also provided dry food and water to the victims, under the programme that ended on Friday. He noted that Bikash, the mobile banking company of BRAC, will distribute the money to the victims.
Abdul Hamid, one of the 300 volunteers, who participated in the rescue operation following the tragedy, told The Independent that locating the garments workers in the ill-fated building had become extremely difficult as most of the workers did not have any identification card.
He said the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturing and Exporters Association (BGMEA) had the IDs from the garment workers.
Ramesh Chandra Roy also said that the money was provided as an interim relief for the victims. Later, they will be given long-term financial supports for rehabilitation.
Talking about the steps taken by different organisations, he said negotiations were on with the buyers, so that the money could be given to the victims before the Eid festival. He said that the IABC has already proposed a USD 71 million fund for the workers.
Mosrefa Mishu, secretary of the Ganotantrik Biplobi Party, said that the compensation was unacceptable as under international laws the workers are entitled to four months’ pay if they are terminated. “No civilised and humane society can accept this; it is like giving alms,” she added.
She also said that according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) laws, if any worker is terminated or loses his/her job, he or she is entitled to pay equivalent to four months’ salary.
-With The Independent input
