Victims of the world's worst garment factory disaster - one which embroiled Australian fashion retailers - are still awaiting compensation and suffering debilitating injuries.
These are the claims put forward by charity ActionAid, the result of a survey actioned six months after the collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh.
ActionAid surveyed 2297 people, nearly two thirds of survivors and families of those who died in the eight-storey factory collapse on 24 April this year.
The survey comes as the Bangladesh government along with the global alliance of trade unions continue to negotiate compensation for survivors and families of the deceased.
The study revealed that:
- 94 per cent reported they have not received any legal benefits from their employers since April, including sick pay or compensation.
- 92 per cent of survivors have not gone back to work.
- Of these, 63 per cent said physical injury such as amputations, paralysis, severe pains in the head, leg and body have stopped them going back to work.
- 92 per cent of survivors reported being deeply traumatised, with over half experiencing insomnia and trembling from loud sounds. Some said they were scared to walk into a building or an enclosed room.
ActionAid claimed only one company, Primark, has provided financial support to survivors – three months’ salary of 15,000 Bangladeshi taka (AU$200) to 3300 people.
The Bangladesh government has given 2.2 million taka (AU$30,000) to 777 people but no long-term compensation package has been agreed.
ActionAid Bangladesh country director Farah Kabi said the group is campaigning for fairer compensation packages and for more companies to sign the Bangaldesh Safety Accord.
“It’s indefensible that for six months, multi-million dollar companies have left the victims to fend for themselves," he said.
Kmart and Target were the first Australian retailers to sign up to a safety accord in a bid to improve conditions for Bangladeshi garment workers.