Bangladesh expands Employment Injury Scheme to include commuting accidents

The decision garnered unanimous support from employers' organizations, workers' organizations, and government agencies comprising the EIS Pilot Governance Board.

In a significant move aimed at enhancing worker protection, the Bangladesh Government has broadened the coverage of the pilot Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) to encompass compensation for accidents occurring during workers' commutes to and from work.

During its 8th meeting held on May 13, 2024, the Governance Board of the Employment Injury Scheme Pilot unanimously approved the inclusion of commuting accidents as industrial accidents, rendering them eligible for compensation payouts starting from July 1, 2024.

Chairing the meeting, Md. Mahbub Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating, "We are very pleased to include commuting accidents in the Employment Injury Scheme Pilot to ensure the protection of industries and workers in Bangladesh."

The decision garnered unanimous support from employers' organizations, workers' organizations, and government agencies comprising the EIS Pilot Governance Board. Technical experts from the International Labour Organization (ILO) provided insights into the technical and financial aspects of the expansion, including conditions for considering commuting accidents as workplace accidents and maintaining separate records.

Employers' associations voiced their support for workers' fundamental rights to social protection while emphasizing the importance of maintaining industry competitiveness. Workers' representatives highlighted the hazardous nature of road travel in the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector, underscoring the significance of covering commuting accidents.

The adaptation aligns the Bangladesh EIS Pilot closer with Article 7 of the ILO Employment Injury Benefits Convention No. 121 (C-121), which mandates countries to define industrial accidents, including commuting accidents. Commuting accidents, within the ambit of the EIS Pilot, are considered as accidents sustained during direct travel between the workplace and workers' local residences.

Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO's Country Director for Bangladesh, emphasized the initiative's evolution since 2022 in compensating injured workers and dependents of deceased workers in the RMG sector. With the inclusion of commuting accidents, the EIS Pilot is poised to provide enhanced protection to workers and improve industrial relations.

The implementation of the Employment Injury Scheme Pilot receives technical support from ILO and GIZ, funded by the Governments of the Netherlands, Canada, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The initiative underscores collaborative efforts toward bolstering worker welfare and promoting sustainable industrial practices in Bangladesh.