DHAKA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- An alumni group comprising government, employer and trade union representatives was launched on Thursday to help facilitate the development of a social protection scheme in Bangladesh for those suffering workplace injury.
Launched in the capital of Dhaka, the 48-member group took part in international study visits and exchange programs held with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the German government to help better understand the principles and operations of employee injury schemes.
Bangladesh is currently collaborating with the ILO and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, which works on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development to establish an Employment Injury Protection and Rehabilitation scheme in Bangladesh.
In the initial phase, it will focus on the ready-made garment sector.
The 2013 worst-ever industrial tragedy, which left 1,130 people dead, and the subsequent efforts to provide compensation to victims highlighted the need for a national scheme to support employees and their families in case of accidents or injuries at work.
In October 2015, the ILO and Germany signed an agreement with Bangladesh to establish a national Employment Injury Protection and Rehabilitation scheme.
