A time to heal

A year ago today, we, along with millions of others, watched with horror the scenes of devastation from Savar, as the Rana Plaza building collapsed trapping and killing thousands of garment workers. The distressing images of so many young women and men who lost their lives or were trapped in the building have stayed with us all, and today we will continue to remember all those who lost their lives, a loved one, or have been left with life-changing injuries.

The collapse of Rana Plaza placed the garment industry, which provides work and support for so many in Bangladesh, in the spotlight like never before. For the manufacturers, international brands, trade unions, NGOs, and the government of Bangladesh, it was not an option to stand by and do nothing.

For the 1,138 families who lost loved ones and the more than 2,000 workers who suffered injuries, it was clear that support would be needed to ensure they did not have to endure ill-health and financial hardship in addition to the trauma of the terrible events of April 24, 2013.

In the last year, we have all worked together to develop a groundbreaking approach to address the needs of all survivors and the families of the victims – the Rana Plaza Arrangement.

The Arrangement is of major significance as it is the only coordinated and systematic approach to ensure all the victims, their families, and dependents will receive entitlements to cover their losses. For the first time, such a process brings together all the key parties involved in a Coordination Committee that governs the Arrangement.

This is the first time a mechanism to deal with financial support of victims of such a tragedy has been drawn up that the whole industry can support.

The Coordination Committee is comprised of: The government – the Ministry of Labour and Employment; the employers – the BGMEA, and the Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF); global and local trade unions – IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC), National Coordination Committee for Workers’ Education (NCCWE), and IndustriALL Global Union; non-governmental organisations –BILS and Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC); and the global brands that source from Bangladesh, represented by El Corte Ingles, Loblaw, and Primark.

The Coordination Committee, with the UN agency, the ILO, acting as a neutral chair, has developed a comprehensive and independent process that will deliver support to the victims, their families, and dependants in a predictable manner consistent with international labour standards.

The details of the process were agreed in late 2013, and as of March 24, 2014, the claims process has begun.  The claims system has been designed to ensure it is easy for beneficiaries to access the process, that it is easy to understand, and that claims are calculated in a fair and equitable manner consistent with international standards.

There are two groups of beneficiaries able to make a claim under the Arrangement: A person who was injured in the disaster and has lost his/her earning capacity as a result of that injury, or a dependent of a person who was killed in the Rana Plaza disaster who was partially or fully reliant on the income earned by that person.

Each beneficiary will receive payments based on their individual circumstances and needs. Each claim will be independently assessed and calculated, based on a formula developed by actuarial experts in line with standards embedded in the ILO Convention No 121. Workers who have suffered injuries in the disaster will be given a medical assessment to determine the extent and permanence of their injury. Medical care has been provided free of charge by the medical centers, and for future long term needs of the injured, the Coordination Committee will ensure that medical care will continue to be provided free of charge.

Yesterday, an advance payment of Tk50,000 was made under the auspices of the Arrangement to all injured workers, dependents of the deceased and missing workers. For cases of injured workers or surviving dependents, this amount will later be deducted from their full payments.  The non-injured workers also received this Tk50,000.

The Rana Plaza Donor Trust Fund, which is collecting donations for the Arrangement, still needs significant donations in order to reach the estimated $40m that will ensure all those affected by the terrible collapse of Rana Plaza receive the support they require. If all funds are collected soon, then we hope that all payments will be made within six months.

The Trust Fund is open to anyone who wishes to donate to it. It is imperative that we build on the initial donations and ensure sufficient funds are raised. This is an obligation for all: Employers, government, brands, and all those that relied on the hard work of Bangladeshi workers to build the industry, the country, and the sector globally.

Today, as we take a moment to reflect on the terrible events of last April 24, we must also ensure that the impact of that day stays with us. That the horror we felt at the loss of so many does not fade, and we do not falter at this last step. We must all ensure that the Donor Trust Fund reaches its target of an estimated $40m, and show that we are all committed to ensuring those who lost so much on that fateful day have the support to continue with their lives. What justice would there be for those who lost their lives if we failed now?