"Perhaps the working conditions of workers in Bangladesh after so much tragedy of something better. But I fear that Bangladesh came to the forefront of world public for a short time and soon everything will be back at the old, "to quote Landerson Santana, director of ADRA Bangladesh.
"I recently spoke with one family living in a shanty slum in Dhaka," says Landerson Santana. "Five people live in a small room without toilets and bathrooms and pays monthly rent 1,500 Taka (about 380 CZK). Seventeen year old daughter working in one of the textile factories 14 hours a day and earns only Taka 5,000 - about 1,270 CZK per month. Due to the work stopped in his eight years in school. From her salary now lives five family members. In order to keep people employed, they are willing to work under terrible conditions, "explains L. Santana.
Low wages are a major competitive advantage in Bangladesh
In the ruined house in Savar housed three companies making for textiles for Western clothing brands. On the day of the tragedy forced executives and local companies were seamstresses to work, albeit at a house wall cracks appeared. Bangladesh is the second largest apparel factory in the world, while working and safety conditions in which people are working in textile businesses are very bad. Multinational corporations that in Bangladesh leave sew clothing, resists that health and safety standards for workers required in contracts with suppliers and factories at the same time carrying out checks.
Bangladeshi companies, contracts and audits too worried. Workers often spend at work more than 12 hours a day, working 6 days a week, are not entitled to holiday pay and usually not enough to cover their living expenses. Low wage workers are Bangladesh greatest competitive advantage and the reason why global companies making their move to the country.
Tragedy in Savar is not unique, it is the third major accident in the last three years. "In Bangladesh, for more than 500 factory buildings with similar problems, as occurred in Savar. By local authorities and the lack of any regulation Attempts to resolve the situation, "says L. Santana. Misfortune forced the government, the ILO and the factory owners to discuss safety in factories. Action plan on which the hearing agreed, should improve the safety of workers. Bangladeshi authorities in the country has security reasons, concluded 18 textile factories.
Changes in Bangladesh does not occur if the system does not improve the education and status of women
In Bangladesh live according to UNICEF data from 2010, 41% of people below the poverty line, that is, less than $ 1 per day. It is estimated that 5 million people in Bangladesh live in slums. Read and write can almost half the population. "Our problems are not quick fixes. The country real changes do not occur until the education system and improve the status of women, "says L. Santana, director of ADRA Bangladesh.
ADRA Czech Republic and its program to support the education of poor children in Bangladesh BanglaKids in cooperation with ADRA Bangladesh going from June 2013 to open a community center in a slum in Dhaka city Čalantika. Center will provide basic education to local children while supporting the family and the local community.
You too can start actively interested in it, if the manufacturer of your favorite clothes behave responsibly! More information about the behavior of multinational companies in Asia and the campaign against poor working conditions in developing countries can be found on the website of a non-governmental organization on Earth .
Source: tz ADRA.cz