The government has extended the scope of the Bangladesh RMG Employment Injury Scheme pilot to encompass compensation for accidents occurring during workers’ commutes to and from work.

During its 8th meeting on Monday, the governance board of the Employment Injury Scheme pilot approved the inclusion of ‘commuting accidents’ as industrial accidents. This decision allows for compensation payouts, effective from July 1.

Labour Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain expressed satisfaction with the addition of commuting accidents to the pilot scheme, emphasizing its importance in safeguarding both industries and workers in Bangladesh.

With technical assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and GIZ, the EIS pilot has been providing compensation to injured workers and the families of deceased workers in the Bangladesh RMG sector for work-related accidents since June 21, 2022.

Funded by the Netherlands government and Canada, the ILO initiative, and by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the GIZ initiative, have supported the EIS pilot.

The decision to include commuting accidents received unanimous support from stakeholders, including the Bangladesh Employers Federation, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, workers’ organizations, and government agencies, all of whom are members of the EIS pilot governance board, according to a statement issued by the ILO on Tuesday.

During the meeting, ILO experts discussed the technical and financial aspects of the expansion, including the criteria for defining commuting accidents as workplace accidents while maintaining separate records due to their occurrence outside the factory premises. They also outlined the financial viability of extending accident coverage under the EIS pilot.

Employers’ associations welcomed the inclusion of commuting accidents, expressing their commitment to workers’ social protection rights, provided that new benefits do not compromise industry competitiveness.

Worker representatives highlighted the relative safety of the RMG sector but emphasized the dangers associated with road travel, underscoring the importance of covering commuting accidents.

Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, noted that the inclusion of commuting accidents is expected to bolster worker protection and enhance industrial relations, which are often strained by accidents during commutes.