The government is going to take a hard line to fully enforce health guidelines in industrial units as most factories are operating amid the coronavirus pandemic.
To this effect, sources said, special inspections have been already launched.
On May 02, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) made such an instruction.
DIFE inspector general Shibnath Roy asked the inspectors concerned to find out any deviation from the guidelines and other health compliances in line with the labour law and its rules.
The state-owned DIFE also warned of taking legal action against those who will fail to address the flaws immediately.
The inspectors have also been asked to report the outcome of their inspections in a prescribed form daily through email.
Amid widespread criticism for lack of strict state monitoring to ensure health safety of garment workers during the pandemic, the DIFE issued the order a week after factories reopened.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on May 03 also requested its member factories to follow the guidelines to ensure safety of workers and employees from corona infections.
Labour leaders, however, alleged that many reopened garment units are running production breaching health guidelines to protect workers.
The number of corona-infected workers also started to surge in garment industrial zones after the reopening of factories on April 26, they claimed.
The Industrial Police said 4,318 out of 7,602 industrial units, including ready-made garment factories, under its jurisdiction remained open on Tuesday.
Of the units, 1,246 are non-garment and 298 under the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority or BEPZA.
Of the units in operation, 1,210 are BGMEA members, 356 registered with the BKMEA and 174 listed with the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association.
A total of 509 factories did not pay wages for March and other allowances until Tuesday.
Of them, 329 are non-RMG, seven BEPZA members and the remaining 173 textile and garment factories affiliated with the three trade bodies.
munni_fe@yahoo.com
