Being deprived of any job opportunity, some injured garment workers of Tazreen Fashions have set up an example by setting a mini-factory after six years of torment, agony and joblessness. A national daily reported that 10 workers joined their hands to set up a mini-factory where they put together their skills and experiences for earning their livelihood.
In November 2012, the inferno at the garment factory situated in the outskirts of the capital city killed 113 workers and injured 172 but neither the government nor the BGMEA comes up with programs to employ the injured and charred workers, leaving their family in torment while regular medical treatment suppresses their living.
The former coworkers arranged Tk 40,000 to buy two sewing machines, an overlock and other instruments at a rented house. The initiative is a good one but their business is still suffering from a lack of needed capital. Though praiseworthy, the initiative is still a hard one, with the workers still suffering from physical, mental and other social stresses. Although many received financial grants and free treatment from several international and national organisations, it has done little to improve their current living situation. Due to the nature of their injuries and the mental trauma suffered, many workers are finding it hard to secure a job, while their living expenses growing.
When the fire broke out, the workers attempted to leave the building through the front gate, but the factory management had locked it from outside. Most of the survivors were left with little choice but to jump off the upper-storey windows of the building. Later, two cases were filed with Ashulia Police Station against the factory owner and others. Even after passing of six years of the incident, the cases are still under trial. All too often we witness employers using their money and influence to go scot-free for crimes against the poor, helpless workers. Using the money power, the perpetrators just buy time to delay the process of the justice.
The initiative of this group of jobless distressed workers to come back to life is praiseworthy, but they need more assistance and capital. The court should also end the trial process shortly as justice delayed, justice denied.
