Study on Injury and Occupational Disease in the Leather Sector of Bangladesh

Workplace injury in Bangladesh is perceived to be high, but the issue has received inadequate attention. It is necessary to create a broad consensus among government, employers and workers organizations on the need for a National Employment Injury Protection and Rehabilitation (NEIPR) scheme. The NEIPR scheme helps spread the risks of workplace injury across all employers at the national level. Such a scheme would provide an immediate response in terms of compensating those directly affected by workplace accidents.

GIZ is working in the broader leather sector and the Government of Bangladesh has shown keen interest to work with the GIZ in setting up a national EII (Employment injury insurance) scheme. An effective design of NEIPR requires a comprehensive 'establishment survey' for developing a clear idea on the type and extent of workplace injury in leather sector of Bangladesh. The overall objective of the proposed study is to assess a comprehensive 'establishment survey' to generate data on accident rate and as well as to make contribution to the knowledge of understanding the nature of the accident in the leather sector. This study will also cover the characteristics and sources of occupational diseases occurring in leather sector.

In order to attain the overall objective, the survey will:
• Produce an inventory of registered establishments in the leather sector, incorporating tanneries, finished leather, leather goods and footwear producing establishments.
• Find out the types and frequency of accidents and occupational diseases occurring in leather sector
• Understand the nature of impacts faced by workplace injury victims and their respective families.
•Understand the consequences faced by workers suffering from occupational diseases and to comprehend implications of such diseases on their respective families.
• Prepare a brief comparison of findings with the RMG sector will also be made.

The study is sponsored by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ, and will be conducted over the period 5 December, 2017 through 2 May, 2018.

Key personnel to be engaged in the study include:
1. Dr. Kazi Ali Toufique (Research Director and team-leader of the study)
2. Dr. Nazneen Ahmed (Senior Research Fellow)
3. Md. Iqbal Hossain (Research Associate)
4. Professor Muhammad Nurul Islam (Consultant)