1

Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh

Ministry of Labour and Employment

Implementation Status of
National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety and Structural Integrity
in the Ready-Made Garment Sector in Bangladesh


Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
A
LEGISLATION AND
POLICY

1 Submission of a labour law
reform package to
Parliament, during its
June/July session (by July
15, 2013).
Cabinet, MoLE The Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2013 was passed by
the Parliament on 15 July 2013. In order to develop and
promulgate Rules/Regulations required for effective
implementation of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act,
2013 GoB has formed a Committee, headed by Secretary,
Ministry of Labour and Employment. Meanwhile, a working
group under the committee has submitted a draft of the rules to the
committee. In the first meeting of the committee held on 22
January, 2014 the initial draft has been distributed among the
members for their comments. In the second meeting of the
committee held on 02 March 2014 the comments received from
the members were reviewed. The consultation process with the
different stakeholders on the draft is still going on. Hopefully the
draft will be finalized by April, 2014.
2 Adoption of National
Occupational Safety and
Health Policy (by 30 April
2013).
Cabinet, MOLE In consultation with the social partners and with the assistance of
the ILO the Government of Bangladesh has developed a National
Occupational Safety and Health Policy, 2013. The Policy
approved by the cabinet on 21/10/2013 has been notified in the
Bangladesh Gazette.

2

Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
3 Review and, where
necessary, adjustment of
relevant laws, rules and
regulations (by 31 December
2013).
Cabinet Committee for the
RMG Sector, MoLE, DIFE,
FSCD, Power Cell of Power
Division, RAJUK
In Bangladesh, the fire and building safety (including electrical
and chemical safety) is regulated through different legislative and
administrative instruments. Cabinet Committee for RMG Sector
has formed one Task Force on Expansion and Simplification of
RMG Industry' headed by one Additional Secretary of Ministry of
Commerce. The Task Force is working on it.
4 Establishment of a Task
Force on Building and Fire
Safety of the Cabinet
Committee for the Ready-
Made Garment Sector (by 30
May 2013).
Cabinet Committee for the
RMG Sector, MoLE,
MoRDM, MOLGRD, FSCD,
Power Cell of Power
Division, Energy and Mineral
Resource Division, BEF,
BGMEA, BKMEA,NCCWE,
IBC
The Cabinet Committee for RMG Sector has formed one Task
Force on Building and Fire Safety in RMG Sector headed by
one Joint Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Employment. The
Task Force is working on it.
B ADMINISTRATION

1 Recruitment of staff to fill
currently vacant posts
(Factory Inspectors and
support staff), as well as 200
additional Labour Inspectors
in the Department of
Inspection for Factories and
Establishments (by 31
December 2013).
MoLE, DIFE The recruitment of additional 200 inspectors was linked with the
up-gradation of the Directorate of Inspection for Factories and
Establishments (DIFE) to a Department. The Government, through
an accelerated process, has already upgraded the Directorate of
Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) to a
Department with 993 staff. The Government Order (GO) is this
regard has been issued on 15 January 2014. The post of the Chief
Inspector has been upgraded to Inspector General. Already (09-02-
2014) one Additional Secretary has joined as Inspector General
(Factories and Establishments). In the first phase a total of 392
new posts for inspectors have been approved for the Department.
Now total number of inspectors is 575.

3

Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)

Recruitment of 42 inspectors against vacant posts has been
completed and recruitment of more 12 inspectors against vacant
post is in progress.

Recruitment process of additional 200 inspectors is under process.
For this purpose recruitment rules has already been approved.
Hopefully the recruitment process will be completed by 31
st
March,
2014.
2 Upgrade the Department of
Inspection for Factories and
Establishments to a
Directorate (by 31 December
2013).
Cabinet, MoLE The Government, through an accelerated process, has already
upgraded the Directorate of Inspection for Factories and
Establishments (DIFE) to a Department with 993 staff. The
Government Order (GO) is this regard has been issued on 15
January 2014. The post of the Chief Inspector has been upgraded
to Inspector General. Already (09-02-2014) one Additional
Secretary has joined as Inspector General (Factories and
Establishments). In the first phase a total of 392 new posts for
inspectors have been approved for the Department. Now total
number of inspectors is 575.
3 Implementation of MoLE
project to strengthen
capacity of the Department
of Inspection for Factories
and Establishments (by 31
December 2014).
MoLE, DIFE For improving the capacity of the Department of Inspector for
Factories and Establishments, implementation of the project
Modernization and Strengthening the Department of Inspection
for Factories and Establishments (Jan, 2013 to December, 2014)
is in progress. The project has a budget of Tk 24 crore 82 lakh
(approximately USD 3 million) and foresees the development of
infrastructure and training of factory Inspectors.

4

Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
4 Review and, where
necessary, adjustment of
factory licensing and
certification procedures
concerning fire safety,
including electrical,
chemical and environmental
safety (by 30 June 2013).
Cabinet Committee for the
RMG Sector, MoLE, FSCD,
Department of Environment,
DIFE
A Task Force on Expansion and Simplification of RMG
Industry headed by one Additional Secretary of Ministry of
Commerce is working on it.
5 Consideration of the
establishment of a one-stop
shop for fire safety licensing
and certification (by 31
December 2013).
Cabinet Committee for the
RMG Sector, MoLE, FSCD,
Department of Environment,
Department of Explosives,
DIFE
One-stop service centre for fire safety licensing and certification
needs to be established to improve administration and monitoring
of fire safety at factory level. A Task Force on Expansion and
Simplification of RMG Industry headed by one Additional
Secretary of Ministry of Commerce is working on it.
6 Development and
introduction of unified fire
safety checklist to be used
by all relevant government
agencies (by 30 April, 2013).

MoLE , DIFE, FSCD,
RAJUK
A unified manual for assessing structural integrity and fire &
electrical safety of RMG buildings has already been developed by
the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET) with the assistance of ILO and was endorsed by the
National Tripartite Committee (NTC) on 21 November, 2013.

Another checklist is being followed by the DIFE, BGMEA and
BKMEA for social compliance related activities including fire and
building safety related issues which were approved by the Social
Compliance Forum for RMG headed by Honble Minister,
Ministry of Commerce. The unified check list is being followed by
all the relevant Government agencies including the Department of
Inspection for Factories and Establishments and Bangladesh Fire
Service and Civil Defense.

5

Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
C PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES

1 Factory level fire safety
needs assessment (by 30
April 2013).
BGMEA, FSCD The Tripartite Committee with the support of ILO has developed a
plan for assessment of building, fire and electrical safety of all
active RMG/Knitwear factories. For this purpose, thirty (30) teams
of qualified engineers led by Bangladesh University of Engineering
and Technology (BUET) have been formed. The activities are
being carried out under the project entitled Improving Working
Conditions in the Ready-Made Garment Sector funded by the
Royal Netherlands Government, DFID-UK and Canadian
Government and supported by ILO through technical assistance.
The ILO (initial fund) and IFC (for better work programme) have
made financial contribution. Similar initiatives are also being taken
under:

a. ACCORD signed by European Buyers;
b. Safety ALLIANCE by North American Buyers;

As per current arrangement ACCORD and ALLIANCE will carry
out assessment of around 2,000 factories, while assessment of rest
1,500 active RMG factories will be done by the teams under the
supervision of Tripartite Committee.

The tripartite committee, ACCORD and ALIANCE have agreed on
a common standard for assessment of fire, electrical and building
safety of the factories on 8 November 2013.



6

Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
Progress of Assessment:

BUET: Out of the targeted 2000 factories 30 teams have already
conducted preliminary assessment of 247 factories up to 16-03-
2014.
Accord: Out of the targeted 1500 factories the accord has
completed assessment of 80 factories by 10 Mrach, 2014.
Alliance: Out of the targeted 500 factories the Alliance has
completed assessment of 247 factories by 12 Mrach, 2014.

Besides, there are some more relevant initiatives underway:

Project worth BDT 100 million funded by JICA for
reallocation and remediation of factory buildings;
Project of US Department of Labour worth USD 2.5 million
for fire and workers safety. The ILO will implement Improving
Fire and General Building Safety in Bangladesh at a cost of USD
1.5 million. The other USD1.0 million project Improving Fire and
General Building Safety in the Ready Made Garment (RMG)
Industries in Bangladesh will be implemented by the American
Center for International Labour Solidarity.
ILOs project Improving Working Condition in the RMG
Sector also includes strengthening labour inspection, occupational
health and safety awareness programme, rehabilitation of injured
workers, and better work programme.

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Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
2 Development and
implementation of a factory
fire safety improvement
programme (by 31
December 2013).
MoLE, MoHA, MoHPW,
National Tripartite
Committee, DIFE, FSCD,
RAJUK, BEF, BGMEA,
BKMEA, NCCWE, IBC
This will be based on the findings and recommendations from the
needs assessment by BUET, Accord and Alliance.
3 Assessment of the structural
integrity of all active RMG
factories (by 31 December
2014).
MoLE, MoHPW, National
Tripartite Committee, DIFE,
FSCD, Rajuk, PWD, BEF,
BGMEA, BKMEA, NCCWE,
IBC
As mentioned above in Activities 1 and 2.
4 Development of a
transparent and accountable
industry sub-contracting
system (by 30 June 2013).
MoC, MoLE, BGMEA,
BKMEA, BEF, NCCWE,
IBC
For this purpose Ministry of Commerce with the assistance of
MOLE and other stakeholders is working on this activity. Already
a draft Guideline for Ensuring Transparency and Accountability
in Sub-Contracting in the RMG Sector has been developed. The
BGMEA has already adjusted its internal sub-contracting policy.
5 Delivery of fire safety crash
course for mid-level factory
management and supervisors
(by 30 September 2013).
MoHA, BGMEA,
BKMEA, FSCD
After Tazreen Fashions factory fire incident, the BGMEA initiated
a one-day fire safety crash course for mid-level managers and
supervisors. All BGMEA members have to participate in this one-
day course. Training is provided by the Department of Fire
Service. A number of courses have already been delivered. The
BGMEA has calculated that a total of 88 courses need to be
delivered to cover all its members. The BGMEA has recruited a
team of 11 engineers to assess building and electrical safety and
35 fire trainers have been also been recruited to train workers and
mid level managers at the factory site.



8

Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
Under the ILO project Improving Working Conditions in the
Ready-Made Garment Sector training capacity will be build, and
methodologies and tools will be provided for the training of Safety
Committees by constituents and other service providers.

6 Development and delivery of
specific training on fire
safety for union leaders (by
31 December 2013).
MoLE, MoHA, NCCWE,
IBC, BEF, BGMEA,
BKMEA, FSCD
Under the ILO project Improving Working Conditions in the
Ready-Made Garment Sector this activity will be arranged.
7 Development and delivery of
mass worker education tools
(by 31 December 2013).
MoLE, NCCWE,
IBC, BEF, BGMEA,
BKMEA, DoL, DIFE, FSCD
To raise awareness of workers regarding fire safety and OSH risks
and prevention a worker education (including TV) training tool by
ILO with the aim to: Support factory-level OSH Committees ,
Train Employers and Workers organizations, Increase awareness
through multi-media information, education and outreach campaign
A multi-media information, education and outreach campaign was
started under FPRW project
The Industrial Relations Institutes (IRI) under the Ministry of
Labour and Employment are involved for workers education.
8 Establishment of a worker
fire safety hotline (by 30
June 2013).
MoHA, BTCL, BTRC,
FSCD, NCCWE, IBC, BEF,
BGMEA, BKMEA
The Department of Fire Service and Civil Defense has established
a hot line to report fire incidents.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
(BTRC) has been assigned two 4-digit dedicated numbers for the
hot-lines for the Department of Labour (DOL) and Department of
Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE). The
installation process is in progress.

9

Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
9 Development and delivery of
specific training on fire
safety for Factory Inspectors
(by 30 June 2013).
MoLE, DIFE, DOL, FSCD The MoLE, ILO and GIZ are currently cooperating in the
implementation of a MoLE Compliance Capacity Building
programme that includes basic Inspector training. The GIZ has
handed over 20 motor cycles for the factory inspectors.

During 22-24 January, 2014 and 04-06 February, 2014 the ILO
and GIZ have completed training of 42 inspectors recruited
recently against vacant posts.

Under the Improving Working Conditions in the Ready-Made
Garment Sector (ILO RMG) project Factory Inspectors will be
trained using the facilities of the Industrial Relations Institutes
under the MOLE.
10 Strengthen the capacity of
the FSCD (by 30 September
2013).
MoHA, FSCD Directorate of Fire Service & Civil Defense (DFSCD) has taken
initiative to recruit additional fire inspectors. Proposal for creating
260 posts of inspectors, in addition to the existing strength of 50
inspectors, is now in the approval process by the Government.

Under the ILO RMG project necessary training will also be
provided to the Inspectors of FSCD.
11 Development of guidelines
for the establishment of
labour-management
committees on occupational
safety and health and/or fire
safety (by 30 September
2013).
MoLE, DIFE, FSCD,
NCCWE, IBC, BEF,
BGMEA, BKMEA
Establishment of labour-management committees on occupational
safety and health and/or fire safety has been included in the
Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2013. To formulate
necessary rules of the Act a committee headed by the Secretary,
Ministry of Labour and Employment has been formed.
Meanwhile, a working group under the committee has submitted a
draft of the rules to the committee. In the first meeting of the

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Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
committee held on 22 January, 2014 the initial draft has been
distributed among the members for their comments. In the second
meeting of the committee held on 02 March 2014 the comments
received from the members were reviewed. The consultation
process with the different stakeholders on the draft is still going
on. Hopefully the draft will be finalized by April, 2014.
12 Development and
dissemination of self-
assessment and remediation
tools on fire safety (by 31
December 2013).
MoLE, MoHA, DIFE, SCD,
NCCWE, IBC, BEF,
BGMEA, BKMEA
Under the ILO initiated project necessary self-assessment and
remediation tools will be developed and disseminated. This will
enable employers, unions and worker representatives to identify
fire safety risks and remediation measures.
13 Development of a tripartite+
protocol for compensation of
the families of workers who
die and workers who are
injured as a result of
occupational accidents and
diseases (by 31 December
2013).
Cabinet Committee for the
RMG Sector, MoLE, BEF,
BGMEA, BKMEA, NCCWE,
IBC
An agreement has been signed by the tripartite constituents+ with
the ILO to establish an International Humanitarian Trust Fund.

The ILO has, on request of a number of international buyers,
developed a framework for a single approach to the provision of
compensation for the victims of the Rana Plaza collapse. A
Coordination Committee has been formed comprising the tripartite
partners, a number of brands and the Clean Clothes Campaign,
with the ILO as the Neutral Chair. The Committee agreed to
establish a Global Trust Fund for the provision of compensation.

A business plan has been developed for this purpose. The Ministry
of Labour and Employment has placed the list of victims to the
ILO. Necessary administrative issues for claims processing
operation are being finalized by the committee. The location of the
central claims processing operation will be at Savar with a satellite

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Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
office in Dhaka, to be identified with the logistical and contracting
help of GIZ. The claim processing is expected to be initiated by
the end of March 2014.
14 Establishment of a publicly
accessible database on safety
issues in ready-made
garment factories (by 31
December 2013).
MoLE, FSCD, DIFE, BEF,
BGMEA, BKMEA
The establishment of the database with the Department of Labour
is being assisted with the support from the Promoting
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work project which is
being implemented by ILO. For this purpose ILO has contracted
one farm Orange-BD to develop the software. The databank will
include trade union registration information, sector wise trade
union, sector wise federation, national federation, confederation,
trade union related case, training related information labour
welfare related information, conciliation, minimum wages etc with
the Department of Labour. Hopefully the system will be launched
by 31 March 2014.

The Project Improving Working Conditions in the Ready-Made
Garment Sector will also support to develop a database for the
Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments
(DIFE). The database will include name and address of the
factories, name of the owners, total number of workers in the
factories with male- female ratio, information on building
structural and safety assessment, business registration and
licensing, factory inspection, accident and injury, and other
relevant information. In this case also ILO has contracted the same
farm Orange-BD to develop the software. Hopefully the system
will be launched by 30 March 2014.

12

Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
15 Redeployment of the RMG
workers that were rendered
unemployed as well as
rehabilitated disabled
workers (by 30 June 2014).
MoLE, BGMEA, BKMEA,
BEF, NCCWE, IBC
The rehabilitation and skills training for victims of Rana Plaza
collapse have been included in ILO initiated project Improving
Working Conditions in the Ready-Made Garment Sector.

A Coordination Unit on Rehabilitation of Victims of Rana Plaza
was established, staffed and made operational. In the weeks after its
opening on 7 November over 1,000 persons visited the Unit to
inquire about, amongst others, medical support, job opportunities,
small business and financial support and missing persons. They
were provided information and support or, as appropriate, referred
to relevant organizations and institutions.
A hotline was established and made operational since 25 November
2013, which can be accessed during office hours. Those who call
receive information or support on the phone; are invited to visit the
Coordination Unit; or are referred to other organizations or
institutions.
A needs assessment among approximately 1,500 victims of Rana
Plaza was completed, 546 of whom are considered permanently or
temporary disabled.
Support, including for skills development and re-employment, to
first batch of 50 injured survivors in collaboration with BRAC is
ongoing. A programme of support has started for an additional 250
survivors through Action Aid.
An international buyer, Primark, will provide US$ 12 million. This
includes US 1 million donated to the ILO Chaired Coordinated

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Planned Activity with
expected completion time
Organizations involved Progress Made (as of 15 March 2014)
Committee trust fund. US 2 million has been paid by Primark in
short term financial aid to 3600 people or their dependants in Rana
Plaza at the time of collapse.
The Government of India and Thailand have come up to provide
artificial limbs to injured workers. The Grameen Phone has
approved 400 flexi load points that would be operated only by the
injured workers of the RMG incidents. Considering the job choice
of the injured the BRAC will explore job opportunity for the re-
trained workers.

Note: The implementation status of the NTPA is being monitored by the High Level National Tripartite Committee on Fire Safety and
Structural Integrity headed by the Secretary, MOLE. The Committee already hold 4 meetings. Some issues relating to assessment of
structural integrity were discussed and necessary approval was given. The Committee headed by Secretary, Ministry of Commerce is also
having regular review of the NTPA. A standing committee headed by Secretary, Ministry of Commerce has been formed by the Cabinet
Committee to review the implementation progress of the NTPA and decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee.