ILO’S Press Release on the tragic incident of fire in a garment factory at Ashulia

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is greatly shocked and saddened by the tragic incident of fire in a garment factory at Ashulia adjacent to Dhaka on 24 November 2012 that resulted in the unfortunate deaths of more than 100 workers. The ILO extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and conveys its sympathy to those injured due to the fire.

Press release | 27 November 2012

DHAKA (ILO News) The International Labour Organization (ILO) is greatly shocked and saddened by the tragic incident of fire in a garment factory at Ashulia adjacent to Dhaka on 24 November 2012 that resulted in the unfortunate deaths of more than 100 workers. The ILO extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and conveys its sympathy to those injured due to the fire.

This incident further reiterates the need for improving the working conditions in the workplaces, in particular fire safety. The ILO urges that necessary measures be put in place to improve fire safety. The ILO will continue to engage with its tripartite constituents, the government, employers’ and workers’ organizations to explore how best to improve the fire safety measures in order to prevent such type of recurrences in future.

As an immediate step, the ILO will convene a meeting that will facilitate social dialogue amongst its tripartite constituents to explore possible avenues for improving and strengthening fire safety measures in the garments sector with a possible participation of major brands and buyers in this meeting.

On a long term basis, the ILO is exploring the possibility of launching the Better Work Programme in Bangladesh that will address labour compliance issues in the garment sector. One of the important components of this programme would be supporting factories to make improvements in Occupational Safety and Health conditions, including adequate fire safety mechanisms

The ILO hopes to learn from the conclusions reached by the different committees instituted to investigate this fire incident.