Tannery workers lead miserable life

Bangladesh’s tannery industry is booming. The export earning is increasing every year but workers are still leading the life they were leading a few years back.

A visit to tannery industry which employs 50,000 workers shows that workers are still working in hazardous working condition and as exposed to serious health risks.

Many are suffering from various kind of disease including skin disease, respiratory illness, and diarrhea caused by the extreme tannery pollution of air, water and soil.

Karim Mia, a worker leader, said that many workers are suffering from serious illnesses.

Worker leaders blame lack of government initiatives to make tanneries safe.

“Nothing meaningful has been done for the betterment of tannery workers,” he said.

Workers said that along with health concern, they are also not getting other benefits.

“Workers of tannery estate are unhappy. We are suffering from lack of housing, health, field and trade union’s office facilities,” Karim added.

A total of 5,000 workers have already relocated in the estate since last year, Karim informed.

“We are struggling to manage our livings as the living cost in this area is increasing every year. We have to work for extra hours to adjust the living costs,” Nurul Haque, Savar merchant tannery leader said.

“We have been making these demands for quite a long time but there is no progress,” Karim said adding that “they would go for a tough movement if their demands are not met this time.”