The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Trade union leaders yesterday urged the government to formulate a unified and comprehensive national policy on the ship breaking industry with both short and long term measures to stop human casualty and adverse effect on environment.

Addressing a press conference here, the leaders suggested strict execution of the policy with necessary updates of the existing laws and proper compliance of local and international regulations to use modern technology in ship breaking and ensure rights of the workers in this sector.

Bangladesh Occupational Safety Health and Environment Foundation (OSHEF) and six trade unions associated with a project of Netherlands Confederation of Trade Union (FNB) jointly organized the press conference.

Local coordinator of OSHEF and FNB Jalal Ahmed read out a written statement while five labour leaders- Mohammad Safar Ali, Rezanur Rahman Khan, Dilip Kumar Nath, Mohammad Mofizur Rahman and Chowdhury Mohammad Ali-replied to the queries of reporters.

They said the ship breaking industry has a significant contribution in the economy with over 30,000 workers directly engaged in this sector but its negative impact on the marine environment and resources is very grievous.

Besides, the leaders said, at least one worker is either killed or injured at the ship breaking site every week.

In this respect, the labour leaders stressed the need for proper implementation of Bangladesh Labour Law-2006 side by side with introduction of participatory committee involving representatives of owners and workers to protect their interests in the ship breaking industry.

They suggested licensing system for the industry owners, prior inspection before arrival of a ship for dismantling and adoption of strong guidelines for checking the environment pollution.