A dangerous livelihood
It was very disheartening to read about the plight of the workers of the re-rolling mills on your first page news “ A Dangerous Livelihood.” (DS April 21). The ones to be blamed are certainly the factory owners and successive governments. The factory owners, in not providing adequate safety measures, are violating the basic human rights of the workers. This unethical and immoral attitude on the part of the factory owners is reprehensible. Punitive measures must be taken against these ruthless owners immediately. And successive governments also share the blame. There are only 4 inspectors for 6,000 registered boilers! In addition, there are just 13 inspectors for more than 14,000 factories countrywide! The government immediately needs to expand the manpower of the department concerned. The government must also think about making it mandatory for the factories to have a standby doctor. And each factory must have adequate safety clothes and tools. Appropriate rules should be there to punish those owners who are violating the rules.
Workers are human beings and deserve proper respect and care. It is due to their hard work and due to them putting their lives under extreme hazards that these re-rolling mill owners manage to earn profits. And when they die, it is treated as a mere statistic!!
I thank your paper for covering the issue.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments