Dhaka: The Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), today officially launched the distribution of ‘Notices of Award’ under the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS). At the launching ceremony, two families of deceased workers from Dhaka and Chattogram EPZs, along with one permanently disabled worker from Cumilla EPZ, received their Notices of Award at a function at the BEPZA complex in the city.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman attended the launching ceremony as the chief guest while Additional Secretary of the Labour and Employment Ministry Md Munir Hossain Khan, ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tunon, and Acting Cluster Coordinator of the SEDTEC Cluster, GIZ Michael Klode also spoke on the occasion. The EIS Pilot, launched on February 26, 2025, is the result of a strategic partnership between BEPZA, the ILO, GIZ, and BEPZA’s international brands and buyers. It is designed to offer reliable social protection to workers in the garment industry, where over 380,000 individuals are currently employed within BEPZA’s zones.
Ziaur Rahman stated that the RMG sector represents 52 percent of EPZ industries, and there is a commitment to expanding this scheme to cover the remaining 48 percent industries with diverse products. He emphasized that no worker should be left behind in the pursuit of inclusive social protection. Presenting the Notice of Award to selected beneficiaries and their families was described as a profound honor and a testament to BEPZA’s commitment to standing beside workers during vulnerable moments.
BEPZA must foster an enabling environment for responsible investment, strengthen compliance with international labor and environmental standards, and ensure that industrial growth translates into sustainable development for all. Ziaur Rahman highlighted that workers in EPZs enjoy enhanced protections and benefits under dedicated EPZ laws and regulations. EPZ workers receive 30-40 percent higher wages compared to their counterparts outside the zones, along with additional benefits like provident funds, group insurance, free medical services, and more.
Max Tunon stated that while financial support cannot replace a life, timely compensation provides families with the stability needed to rebuild. The ILO remains committed to working with BEPZA and partners to expand and strengthen this scheme. Dr. Michael Klode remarked that the scheme reflects a shared responsibility for protecting workers and employers alike, and GIZ is proud to support this step towards a safer labor system in Bangladesh.
Md. Munir Hossain Khan noted that this initiative demonstrates how government, employers, workers, and international partners can unite to build a safer and more inclusive labor market. The EIS project, introduced by BEPZA in collaboration with the ILO on February 26, 2025, aims to provide financial benefits to workers in the garment sector of EPZs in cases of death or permanent physical disability caused by workplace incidents. Funded by international brands, the EIS project is being implemented with technical assistance from the ILO and GIZ, initially benefiting garment sector workers and gradually extending to other sectors.