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Latest Research

Financing Social Protection Floors in South East Asia
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All Resources in Bangladesh

Social Protection South Asia Partners Meeting 2014 Proceeding

2014-12-19

Proceeding on social protection South Asia parnter conference in Dec, 2014

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Towards a Regional Social Protection for South Asia - A framework for discussion 2014

2014-12-19

ILO’s Social Protection initiative articulates the need for a social protection as follows:

 “The rapidly growing interconnectedness of global financial, product and labour markets poses new challenges for the maintenance or enhancement of social justice. In a world in which financial and economic crises in any region are highly contagious and their effects on labour markets and social welfare spread rapidly, the capacity of individuals to cope alone with economic risks is less effective than before. The global social risks associated with pandemics and the expected effects of climate change have a similar impact on the levels of individual social protection. National social protection systems need to be stronger than ever to neutralize additional systemic global risks. The risks and opportunities inherent in globalization require effective social protection.”[1]

However, the ILO social protection does not propose any measures to reduce these risks; rather it focuses only on contingencies and proposes to offers a minimum kind of safety covers to help people survive. This clearly indicates that ILO tries to convince us that there is no alternative to this anti-people politico-economic regime and the socio-economic and environmental disasters that it brings, the only thing that can be done is to extend some help to the people during contingencies so that they survive and remain in the labour market. This is also in the line with broader perspective on informal sector workers, where in the focus is not on helping them to make their livelihoods sustainable, but only on extending them some safety cover to help them survive as the reserve army of labour. This is fully in line with new strategies of profit maximization in the new international division of labour shaped in the global value chains.

The real concerns of the social protection initiatives of UN and the ILO are more visible in the following statements:

“National Social Protection Floors are a social and political necessity, a minimum of income protection is the material basis for the functioning of families and households which, in turn, provide the basis for social cohesion that is pivotal for the functioning of societies and states. Without a minimum of social protection and material protection, the commitment of a major part of society to a democratic state will be at risk and with it the protection of all. This was also acknowledged by, among others, the World Bank which, in its 2005 World Development Report, made the case that poverty is a risk to protection and lack of protection can sully the investment climate.”[2]

The above statement makes it clear that the real concern behind the social protection initiatives are not the wellbeing of the people, but the wellbeing of the capital and the state. The globalization and liberalization are worsening the conditions to the extent that it is crossing all the limits, and if something is not done, it may very soon force the emergence of anti-capital volcanic movements and revolts. This is the real danger for the transnational capitalist class and it is the real concern behind the social protection initiatives. This is why, social protection initiatives are more focused to show and convince the people that the state and the capital are concerned for them. Therefore, as in case of CSR, the emphasis of social protection initiatives is also more on ‘appear to be doing’ rather than ‘actually doing’. Because ‘actually doing’ is very costly; and effectively ‘appear to be doing’ reduces the costs and at the same time effectively manipulates the consent of the people and minimizes the discontent. This may be seen in ILO and UN praising the efforts of some developing countries like India towards achieving universal coverage of social protection. Take the example of well praised achievements in case of old age pensions in India. Firstly, the old age pension is only for the below poverty line old age people and not for all. It is also very well established that the determination and listing of poverty line people is done in such a way that large number of poor actually living below poverty line are not taken in to account. And what is actually offered under old age pension is not even sufficient for one meal every day. Is it not shameful that ILO and UN praise such pension scheme? Another example is the Unorganized Workers Social Protection Act. Apparently it looks promising, but actually it is also the strategy of ‘appear to be doing’ rather than ‘actually doing’. There are serious problems in the act itself, and on the other hand, practically this act is only on the paper, without any budget and without any implementation machinery.

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Status of coal miners in Bangladesh

2014-11-25
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Asbestos Time Bomb in Bangladesh

2014-11-25

This report is a field assessment study on asbestos and the the extent of its use in the country bringing to attention to the gravity of the situation in countries like Asia and the building time bomb in the region with regards to asbestos use.


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Occupational Accident Statistics in Bangladesh: Reality, problems and challenges

2014-11-25

Numbers of Workplace deaths and injuries in Bangladesh

There exist three sources of figures on the number of workplace deaths and injuries in Bangladesh: Government data which is based on employer reports; reports published in newspapers; and estimates by the ILO. None of these can be relied on to provide accurate data.

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SOUTH ASIA SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON ORGANISING STRATEGIES FOR INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS

2013-12-19
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Protest - Support Bangladeshi Garment Workers

2013-11-11

Statement to the Fire at the Factory of Tazreen Fashions Killing over Hundreds in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Besides conveying our deepest condolence and concerns to all victims, Asian Transnational Corporations Monitoring Network (ATNC) is calling for an immediate action from the Bangladeshi government and international clothing brands following the deadly fire at the factory of Tazreen Fashions on late Saturday, 24 November 2012.

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[4th AROSS] Sharpening Labour’s Role in Advancing Social Protection for All in Asia 2013

2013-10-22
 

The content of this book is upon of the discussion in the Fourth Asian Roundtable on Social Security meeting which was co-organised by AMRC and the University of Philippines in Manila. The book includes country reports on social protection in Asia, overview on the road to social protection in Asia, outcome of the conference, among others. The book serves to provide comprehensive information on social protection for all from the labour perspective in Asia.

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Tazreen Fire – the Ground Realities

2013-01-22
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[Bangladesh] Tazreen Fire: JS body trashes BGMEA probe. Says report aimed to protect factory owner

2013-01-09
The parliamentary watchdog on labour yesterday rejected a probe by the garment industry lobby group on the deadly fire at Tazreen Fashions, saying it was biased and intended to protect the factory owner.
 
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in the probe report says the fire on November 24 last year-- the deadliest the country has ever witnessed -- was pre-planned.
 
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Strengthening Freedom of Association in Asia: Strategies and Mechanisms

2011-12-11

A group of labour leaders and activists from seven Asian countries gathered to share experiences regarding “Strengthening Freedom of Association in Asia: Strategies and Mechanisms”, co-hosted by Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) and the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR). Aggressive union-busting and violent repression of organizing have been among the chief problems faced by Asian labour organizations when they organize workers in defense of their labour rights – with gross impunity even in cases where such rights are clearly constitutiona

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Working Conditions and Reproductive Health Status of Female Garments Workers of Bangladesh

2009-04-25
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Workers' Compensation Commission: A real challenge for Bangladeshi unions

2004-05-01
Shajahan Khan
 
 
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Asia Pacific Labour Law Review: Workers' Rights for the New Century

2003-01-01
 

This book is more than a review of labour law, it is the only comprehensive review available of labour law in the Asia Pacific region. It investigates the impact of labour law on workers in 30 countries. It analyses trade union and labour activists’ responses to changes in labour law, and examines what labour law means for workers’ daily lives. Each chapter representing a country can be downloaded country wise for download below.
 

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BANGLADESH: HUMAN RIGHTS IN EXPORT PROCESSING ZONES

2001-04-01

Abdullah Siddiqui

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