Bangladesh building collapse: Third of Rana Plaza garment workers ‘still traumatised’ a decade after fatal incident

A third of people affected by the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh are still traumatised and struggling with physical and mental health a decade on, a report has found.

The collapse of the building that housed garment factories – many of which were making cheap clothes for western brands – killed more than 1,100 people and injured around 2,500 more on April 24, 2013.

The study from ActionAid found more than half of survivors are unemployed as they struggle with physical pain and mental trauma. Just over a third of survivors have returned to work in garment factories since the collapse.

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A further 200 garment workers were interviewed about the safety of their workplaces, with around 60 per cent highlighting several risks present in their factory, which the charity said indicates more needs to be done to protect workers.

Women work at a garment factory in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, earlier this month. The tenth anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment building collapse will be marked on April 24, a catastrophe that spotlighted the global fashion industry's reliance on developing world labour, working in dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions. Picture: AFP via Getty ImagesWomen work at a garment factory in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, earlier this month. The tenth anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment building collapse will be marked on April 24, a catastrophe that spotlighted the global fashion industry's reliance on developing world labour, working in dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions. Picture: AFP via Getty Images
Women work at a garment factory in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, earlier this month. The tenth anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment building collapse will be marked on April 24, a catastrophe that spotlighted the global fashion industry's reliance on developing world labour, working in dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions. Picture: AFP via Getty Images

Around 60 per cent of those surveyed highlighted several risks present in their factory, including machinery problems, the absence of fire safety measures, inadequate ventilation and lighting, as well as a lack of health safety measures.

Meanwhile, almost one in five reported their factories lacked firefighting equipment, while 23 per cent stated emergency fire exits were not available.

Mousumi, who has received financial support and counselling from Action Aid, was working on the sixth floor on the day of the collapse and was badly injured after being trapped under the rubble.

She said: “The horrible memories of those three hours under the rubble still haunt me. I feel the same fear the moment I enter or stand under a building. I constantly wonder if I will ever again have the courage to go to a building for work.”

Farah Kabir, country director at ActionAid Bangladesh, said: “Many of the survivors from the Rana Plaza collapse are still struggling mentally and physically. It’s very concerning to see that more than half have not been able to find economic opportunities to move on. They desperately need support to find alternative livelihoods and the opportunity to live a decent life.”

ActionAid is urging governments worldwide to ratify the International Labour Organisation Convention 121 (ILO C121) and ensure in the case of incidents causing injury at work, injured workers, including dependants of deceased families, are well compensated, meeting the ILO C121 minimum standards. In addition to this convention, a UN-binding instrument will encourage corporate accountability for human rights abuses and promote decent work.

The ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh is the second largest in the world. It employs more than four million workers in about 5,000 garment factories and generates more than $30 billion (£24m) in export revenue a year. Women make up 80 per cent of garment workers worldwide.

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Wangari Kinoti, leading on women’s rights and feminist alternatives at ActionAid International, said: “Women are disproportionately in precarious work, making up 80 per cent of garment workers globally.

"There are various conventions and agreements governing workers’ rights, but human rights abuses and exploitation are on the rise. If we are to guarantee the overall wellbeing of millions of women workers, not only must there be more commitment and action at national level, but also a UN-level legally binding treaty to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other businesses.”

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