Govt mulling introduction of ‘national social safety insurance’

UNB, Dhaka :
The government is keen to introduce a national social insurance scheme in Bangladesh in phases with an aim to enhance the social safety of the factory workers and common people, according to an official document.
Officials with knowledge of the process say a study has already been conducted on this prospective scheme, initiated by the Cabinet Division, by laying emphasis on the gradual introduction of four types of social insurance services in the country.
It envisages unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, sickness insurance and employment injury Insurance, which is focused on the country’s factory workers, according to a document obtained by UNB.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has already taken steps to launch a pilot of the employment injury scheme to protect factory workers from injuries.
Officials involved with the process say that ensuring workers’ safety in line with the global standard is crucial as human rights organisations and workers’ rights groups are more vocal than ever about workplace safety and workers’ rights at home and abroad. Global brands, especially in the garment sector, are concerned about compliance when it comes to workers’ welfare.
According to a 2021 survey by the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), an NGO, a total of 1,053 workers were killed and 594 others injured in workplace accidents across the country.
BILS analyses that such casualties and injuries took place mainly because of a road crash, electrocution, lighting, fires, toxic gases, waterway accidents, wall or roof collapse and the explosion of gas cylinders.
According to the document, various other steps have been taken and implemented to use such insurance services as “a disaster management tool.”
It says steps have also been taken to introduce crop insurance, livestock insurance, and health insurance for both government employees and the common people.
“Particularly, the government is encouraging the introduction and widespread expansion of crop insurance,” reads the document.
It says there are initiatives to fully automate the insurance sector to ease the hassle of collecting the payouts of insurance claims.
Steps will be taken to strengthen financial inclusion and promote national savings by increasing the coverage of insurance, it says.