50pc RMG workers suffering from climate change

Staff Reporter :
At least 50 percent of workers in readymade garments (RMG) are suffering from climate change and environmental degradation, according to the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS).

In a recent survey conducted on 402 RMG workers from Gazipur Tongi’s 160 factories.
The survey report was revealed on Wednesday at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) auditorium.

The survey found that 50 percent of RMG workers are affected by climate change, resulting in increased leave and absenteeism for 23 percent, decreased efficiency for 8 percent, reduced productivity for 6 percent, reduced income, and increased job insecurity for 13 percent.

The number of people suffering from diseases is 100 percent; suffering from heat has increased by 65 percent; rainfall and floods have increased by 42 percent; and victims of cyclones and floods have increased by 20 percent.

After an environmental pollution review, water pollution has increased by about 18 percent, and air pollution has increased by about 64 percent. As a result, it is known that 21% of them have headaches, 14 percent suffer from dizziness, 20 percent suffer from fatigue, and 25 percent suffer from shortness of breath.

Besides, waterlogging has increased by 7 percent, and cooking gas consumption has increased by about 33 percent.

The programme was presided over by BILS Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddir Ahmed, where members of the University Grants Commission, Professor Dr. Abu Taher, Deputy Director of BILS and Chief Researcher Monirul Islam, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Raja Mia, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Nazmul Haque, Assistant Director of the Department of Environment Mirza Asadul Kibriya, Assistant Inspector General of the Factory and Institution Inspection Directorate Dr. Biswajit Roy, and others were present.