Despite being one of the major non-RMG industries with around 5,000 manufacturing units, safety concerns persist in the plastic sector of Bangladesh. Many factories, especially smaller ones, lack open roof access, firefighting drills, and safety tests of machines and electrical facilities, posing risks during emergencies. Structural safety concerns persist in these factories, with over 60 per cent neglecting crucial safety tests and training. Mishandling of hazardous substances is another hazard that persists in plastic enterprises, as 42 per cent of factories lack proper training in chemical handling.
These observations emerged at the dialogue titled ‘Emerging Safety Risks in the Plastic Sector: What Needs to be Done?’ organised by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Bangladesh and Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BPGMEA) on Saturday 23 September 2023.
The dialogue was based on the study titled ‘Emerging Safety Risks in the Non-RMG Sector: Assessing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Practices in the Plastic Sector Enterprises’. The study has been conducted by Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director of CPD and Ms Jebunnesa (Jeba), Programme Associate, CPD.
‘There is a pressing need to raise awareness about safety hazards and OSH practices within the plastic sector, where many remain unaware of these crucial aspects’ said Mr Shamim Ahmed, President, BPGMEA, in his introductory remarks.
In his keynote presentation, Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem recommended that a five to ten-year strategic plan, aligned with global standards, is essential for ensuring sustainability across enterprises, workers, and markets. The plan will contribute to helping the sector expand beyond the domestic and non-traditional export markets and develop a compliant export-oriented sector for Europe and North America.
While giving suggestions for the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Planning, he urged, ‘The government should immediately approve the proposal to relocate around 1200 factories that are currently located in residential areas and multi-story buildings in Old Dhaka.’ Such a relocation will reduce the safety risks of the old Dhaka as well as the workers working in those factories.
‘The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) should establish an “ISU-Plastic” unit within its Industrial Safety Unit for monitoring and inspecting factories outside old Dhaka, adhering to national and international safety protocols’ said the Research Director.
International organisations, especially International Labour Organization (ILO), could take a major initiative in improving OSH in the plastic sector as part of its intervention beyond the Readymade Garment (RMG) sector. BPGMEA should request ILO to develop a partnership programme targeting the OSH related issues, highlighting better monitoring, strengthening capacity building, awareness raising of the management and workers, setting safety committees, and maintaining safety protocols.
He stressed that BPGMEA must lead the plastic sector’s transformation with a revised five-year strategic plan focusing on sustainability, circularity and workplace safety along with product developments and expansion of the export horizon. They should establish an OSH unit, starting with an OSH officer and expanding over time to help the members with technical training sessions. He suggested that their membership criteria should include prerequisites, and renewal should be based on meeting fire, electrical, and structural safety requirements.
‘Integrating OSH measures with industrial safety practices is essential for a comprehensive approach to enhance workplace safety in the factories of Bangladesh’ said Mr Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director of ILO Bangladesh.
Md Jashim Uddin, President of the Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said ‘Ceasing operations of non-compliant plastic factories may not be the best approach, considering their substantial economic contribution’. He urged that ways should be sought to ensure that safety regulations are followed. An initiative on safety compliance education has been undertaken by the FBCCI, and such efforts should be promoted and replicated among all industries.
Mr Matiur Rahaman, Joint Inspector General at DIFE, Ministry of Labour and Employment stressed ‘Development partners should diversify their investments to include the plastic sector, rather than focusing solely on the RMG sector’.
In his closing remarks Mr K M Iqbal Hossain Senior Vice President, BPGMEA, said ‘Given the disparity in size within the sector, reaching the safety targets will be extremely challenging if government officials, leaders of the plastic industry, and workers do not work together in coordination’.
The dialogue was also attended by experts in the plastic industry and journalists from both print and electronic media, many of whom participated in the Q/A session and shared their valuable insights.