ILO Deputy Director-General on first Rana Plaza payments: 'Good news for the NWB workers affected and we must also focus on all the victims'

GENEVA - ILO Deputy Director-General for Field Operations and Partnerships Gilbert Houngbo has said Primark's announcement that it will start making payments to the victims of the Rana Plaza accident - injured workers employed by Primark suppliers New Wave Bottoms or the families of workers who died -means that these families will be getting financial assistance soon.

 

"This is of course welcome news for the NWB workers and their families. We also need to focus on the other victims of the Rana Plaza tragedy,” said Houngbo.

 

Primark's payments will be made under the auspices of the Coordinated scheme based on ILO Convention 121 on employment injury benefits. In addition to these payments, Primark will make a contribution to the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund established under the scheme, and it is encouraging other buyers to also contribute to the Fund.

 

"We too urge other retailers to make a donation to the Fund because we need to focus on the remaining estimated 3,000 workers or family members who rightly expect to be compensated. It is crucial that all the workers affected by the Rana Plaza tragedy, and their families, are properly looked after", added the ILO deputy chief.

 

For more information, please contact the ILO Department of Communication and Public Information at +41 22 799 7912 or newsroom@ilo.org

 

Source: ilo.org. 17 March 2014

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