European Maritime Companies Accused of Endangering Bangladeshi Workers
SITAKUNDA, BANGLADESH — A disturbing revelation has been made by Human Rights Watch (HRW), accusing European maritime companies of discarding old ships on Bangladeshi shores. This practice, carried out under perilous conditions, has reportedly claimed the lives of several workers tasked with dismantling these massive vessels.
Shipbreaking: A Dangerous Affair
Sitakunda beaches, located in southeastern Bangladesh, have become a global hub for shipbreaking. With the nation’s burgeoning construction industry clamoring for affordable steel, these beaches provide an ample supply. Since 2020, European firms have reportedly sent over 520 ships to this location, where numerous workers, alarmingly bereft of protective equipment, labor to tear them apart.
Julia Bleckner, a researcher with HRW, commented, “Companies scrapping ships in Bangladesh’s perilous and polluting yards are reaping profits at the tragic expense of Bangladeshi lives and the environment.”
She further urged maritime companies to avoid exploiting legal loopholes and adopt responsible waste management practices.
Dire Working Conditions
The conditions these workers face daily paint a grim picture. HRW’s investigations, carried out in collaboration with the Belgium-based NGO Shipbreaking Platform, highlight some harrowing details. Workers resort to using socks as makeshift gloves to guard against burns from molten steel. Makeshift masks, often just shirts, are used to avoid inhaling toxic fumes, while many risk injuries by transporting hefty steel chunks barefoot.
The report by HRW also narrates horrifying accounts of injuries sustained from falling steel pieces and accidents caused by ship fires or bursting pipes.
Since 2019, the Bangladeshi environmental group Young Power in Social Action reports that at least 62 workers have tragically lost their lives in Sitakunda’s shipbreaking yards.
Responses and Reactions
The Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association (BSBA), the body representing the yard owners, has asserted that steps are underway to improve safety standards. This comes in anticipation of a forthcoming international convention focused on safe and environmentally sustainable scrapping, slated for enforcement in 2025.
Mohammad Abu Taher, President of the BSBA, stated to AFP, “We are working towards transforming our shipbreaking yards into eco-friendly sites, even if it entails high costs. Efforts are on to equip the workers with protective gear.”
However, Fazlul Kabir Mintu, associated with the Danish-funded Occupational Safety and Security Information Center, expressed concerns about the overwhelming influence yard owners exert on local politics. He highlighted the prevalent “climate of impunity,” emphasizing the lack of focus on worker safety in many shipyards.
The Asbestos Menace
Adding to the already treacherous working environment is the presence of asbestos in many ships sent for dismantling. Asbestos, a known carcinogen linked to severe lung ailments, is handled directly by workers, often using their bare hands.
Repon Chowdhury, executive director of the OSHE Foundation, mentioned that their study on 110 shipbreaking workers exposed to asbestos showed alarming results. Thirty-three tested positive, with all of them suffering varying extents of lung damage. Tragically, three of these workers have since passed away.
Conclusion
The current scenario in Sitakunda serves as a stark reminder of the severe implications of industries neglecting human rights and safety standards. As European maritime companies and local yard owners continue to benefit from this shipbreaking industry, the onus lies on them, along with international regulatory bodies, to ensure that the dignity and safety of workers are upheld.
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