Deaths in workplace accidents fall 2% in 2022

Workers' death in workplace accidents dropped 2% in 2022 compared to the previous year, a survey has revealed.  

In 2022, 1,034 workers were killed and 1,037 injured in workplace accidents which were 1,053 and 594 respectively in 2021, the report said on Monday. 

The survey report tilted "Newspaper-Based BILS Survey on Labour and Workplace Situation in Bangladesh-2022"  was prepared by the Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies.

Road accidents, electrocution, lightning, fire, drowning due to trawler capsize in the sea during cyclones, injury from falling objects on head, poisonous gas, marine accident, wall/roof collapse, cylinder explosions etc are some of the causes of accidents at work.

According to the survey, of the total deceased in workplace accidents, 1,027 (99%) were male and seven (1%) female workers. 

The report also said that 135 workers were killed last year and 155 injured due to workplace torture. 

There were 196 labour unrest incidents in various sectors, 115 of which occurred in the garment sector.

Sector-wise, the highest number of 499 (48%) workers died in the transport sector followed by the construction sector 118 (11%) and agriculture sector 112 (11%). 

Besides, 46 daily labourers (less than 5%), 44 in container depots, 43 in fishery sector, 22 in electrical sector, 15 in shipping sector, 12 in hotel restaurant, 10 in brick kilns, seven in ship breaking industry, six in chemical factories and 100 workers in other sectors were killed.

Of the total 1037 workers who were injured in workplace accidents, 964 (93%) were male and 73 (7%) were female. 

The highest 503 (49%) workers were injured in the fisheries sector while 125 (12%) at container depot, 90 (9%) in garment sector, 87 (8%) in transport sector, 86 (8%) in construction sector, 25 in shipping sector, 23 in ship breaking industry, 15 in manufacturing industry, 15 in agricultural industry, 12 in medicine factory, nine day-labourers, seven in steel mills and 40 workers in other sectors.

According to the survey, in 2022, 36 workers were killed and 122 injured while commuting to work. 

In 2021, the number of workers killed was 91 and 114 injured on their way to work.

A total of 338 workers were victims of workplace torture in 2022, of whom 294 (87%) were male and 44 (13%) female, said the report. 

Of the total 338 victims, 135 were killed, 155 were injured, 34 were missing, one was reported to have committed suicide and 13 abducted were later rescued by the police. 

Forms of harassment outside the workplace include physical abuse, rape, gang rape, sexual harassment, stabbing, murder, mysterious death, kidnapping, beating etc.

According to the survey, the highest 89 (45%) cases of worker dissatisfaction occurred due to salary arrears. Apart from this, 40 (20%) cases of worker dissatisfaction occurred due to demands, 19 (10%) due to demands for opening of closed factories, 11 (6%) due to demands for salary increase, seven due to lay-offs, six due to demands for bonuses and 24 due to other demands.

In 2021, a total of 431 labour movements occurred in various sectors with the highest 172 in the garment sector, 50 labour strikes in the transport sector.