Launch banner of the Bangladesh employment injury scheme

Social security

Implementation of a pilot Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh

This initiative is supporting the Government of Bangladesh, and the social partners to introduce a pilot of an Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector as the first step towards a sustainable contributory social insurance system in the country.

Launch banner of the Bangladesh employment injury scheme © ILO
Project details

1 August 2021 - 31 December 2028

Netherlands, Canada

Phase-I: BGD/20/01/NLD; Phase-II: BGD/23/02/NLD; BGD/24/01/CAN

Syed Saad Hussain Gilani, Chief Technical Adviser (CTA); Noushin Shah, National Programme Coordinator. Email: dhaka@ilo.org

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The project provides technical assistance to the Government of Bangladesh (MoLE, Central Fund), Employers’ Associations (BEF, BGMEA, BKMEA), and Workers’ Associations (IBC, NCCWE) in establishing an operational EIS in the ready-made garment sector as well as strengthening the public administration capacity on the EIS Pilot.

Based on the learning from the EIS pilot phase, the project also aims to transform this Pilot into a National Employment Injury Insurance (EII) Programme, in line with the ILO Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No. 121). 

Phase 1 started in August 2021, ended in September 2023, and was solely funded by the Government of the Netherlands. Phase 2 is the continued collaboration with the Government of the Netherlands and is co-funded by the Government of Canada.

Phase 2 will focus on the following three outcomes:

  1. Outcome-1:  EIS-Pilot is operationalized.
  2. Outcome-2: System of ‘Occupational Medicine’ improved.
  3. Outcome-3: National Employment Injury Benefits system designed.

It is expected that through this successful pilot, workers and their families (especially the women, and vulnerable, who are dependent on the deceased or disabled workers) will be under an improved income protection system. At the same time, the employers will be protected from financial and reputational loss.

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This video explains the importance of employment injury insurance for workers and employers in the event of an accident at work.

News and stories

Bangladesh garment sector injury scheme to include commuting accidents
Members of the Bangladesh employment injury scheme Governing Board at their 8th meeting held in May 2024

Social security

Bangladesh garment sector injury scheme to include commuting accidents

Employment Injury Insurance in Bangladesh: Bridging social security in case of tragedy
The rescue operation after the collapse of Rana Plaza in Dhaka in 2013

Statement

Employment Injury Insurance in Bangladesh: Bridging social security in case of tragedy

Fulfilling social protection for older persons in Bangladesh
An elderly Bangladesh farmer

Pensions

Fulfilling social protection for older persons in Bangladesh

EIS Sub-Committee continues to enroll RMG workers for compensation for work-related death and disability
Members of the Bangladesh Governance Board at their meeting in August 2023

Social security

EIS Sub-Committee continues to enroll RMG workers for compensation for work-related death and disability

Handbook and checklist for model enterprise clinics in garment industry launched
Employers, workers, government and ILO representatives pose with the new handbook providing guidelines for establishing enterprise level health clinics for workers

Occupational safety and health

Handbook and checklist for model enterprise clinics in garment industry launched

Thirty garment and knitwear factories awarded for successfully piloting model enterprise clinics
Members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) awarded for setting up model clinics

Occupational safety and health

Thirty garment and knitwear factories awarded for successfully piloting model enterprise clinics

Pilot ‘Employment Injury Scheme’ launched by Ministry of Labour and ILO to provide income protection to garment workers
Dignitaries who attended the launch of the Bangladesh pilot employment injury scheme take group photo

Social security

Pilot ‘Employment Injury Scheme’ launched by Ministry of Labour and ILO to provide income protection to garment workers

Signing of ‘Geneva Declaration’ between the Employers of Bangladesh and ILO to promote the ‘Employment Injury Scheme’ Pilot
Representative of Bangladesh employers and the ILO after signing up for an employment injury scheme

Social security

Signing of ‘Geneva Declaration’ between the Employers of Bangladesh and ILO to promote the ‘Employment Injury Scheme’ Pilot

Training for Trainers on implementing handbook and checklist on ‘Model Enterprise Clinics'
Garment and knitwear employer organizations trained on model enterprise clinics

Social security

Training for Trainers on implementing handbook and checklist on ‘Model Enterprise Clinics'

Newly formed EIS Governance Board convenes third meeting
The Governance Board of the pilot Employment Injury Scheme convenes third meeting

Social Security

Newly formed EIS Governance Board convenes third meeting

Videos

Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission, he Kingdom of the Netherlands on the EIS pilot
Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands speaks during the launch of the Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh project in June 2024

Social security

Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission, he Kingdom of the Netherlands on the EIS pilot

Canada on the worker safety and the pilot employment injury scheme
Lilly Nicholls, the Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh during the launch of the Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh project

Worker safety

Canada on the worker safety and the pilot employment injury scheme

Bangladesh Employers' Federation on employment injury scheme
Ardashir Kabir, the President of the Bangladesh Employers' Federation

Employment injury

Bangladesh Employers' Federation on employment injury scheme

Tutorial on using the handbook to establish model enterprise clinics
A man explains how to use the guidebook on establishing enterprise-level clinics should be used

Video tutorial

Tutorial on using the handbook to establish model enterprise clinics

Employees social security: Benefits, returns, right and responsibilities
Cover image of the social security benefits and returns explainer video

Video explainer

Employees social security: Benefits, returns, right and responsibilities

Publications

Bangladesh employment injury scheme phase 1 achievements
Cover page of the results brief of Bangladesh's employment injury scheme

Results

Bangladesh employment injury scheme phase 1 achievements

Pilot employment injury scheme for Bangladesh's RMG sector
Cover page of the Bangladesh employment injury scheme fact sheet April 2024

Fact sheet

Pilot employment injury scheme for Bangladesh's RMG sector

Pictorial handbook to establish model enterprise clinic at RMG industries in Bangladesh
Cover page of the pictorial handbook for establishing model enterprise clinics in garment factories in Bangladesh

Publication

Pictorial handbook to establish model enterprise clinic at RMG industries in Bangladesh

Guidelines to establish model enterprise clinic at RMG industries in Bangladesh
Cover page of the guidelines for establishing model enterprise clinics in garment factories in Bangladesh

Publication

Guidelines to establish model enterprise clinic at RMG industries in Bangladesh

Implementation of a pilot Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh
Cover page of the project fact sheet of the pilot Bangladesh employment injury scheme

Project Factsheet

Implementation of a pilot Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh

Nine Business Practices for Improving Safety and Health Through Supply Chains and Building a Culture of Prevention and Protection
Placeholder image

Nine Business Practices for Improving Safety and Health Through Supply Chains and Building a Culture of Prevention and Protection

Bangladesh – ILO Technical Report on the Feasibility Assessment of an Employment Injury Insurance Scheme – Executive Summary
The cover page of the executive summary of the feasibility study on an employment injury insurance scheme for Bangladesh

Bangladesh – ILO Technical Report on the Feasibility Assessment of an Employment Injury Insurance Scheme – Executive Summary

Resources

Bangladesh – ILO Technical Report on the Feasibility Assessment of an Employment Injury Insurance Scheme – Executive Summary
Cover page of the Executive Summary of the ILO Technical Recommendations on the Feasibility of EIS in Bangladesh

Executive Summary

Bangladesh – ILO Technical Report on the Feasibility Assessment of an Employment Injury Insurance Scheme – Executive Summary

Cost Estimate of the Proposed Employment Injury Compensation Scheme in Bangladesh
Cover page of the supporting document on the cost estimate of the proposed Bangladesh national employment injury compensation scheme

Supporting Document

Cost Estimate of the Proposed Employment Injury Compensation Scheme in Bangladesh

ILO Technical Recommendations on the Feasibility Assessment of an Employment Injury Insurance Scheme in Bangladesh
Cover page of the full report of the ILO Technical Recommendations on the Feasibility of EIS in Bangladesh

Technical Report

ILO Technical Recommendations on the Feasibility Assessment of an Employment Injury Insurance Scheme in Bangladesh

Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Introduction of a National Employment Injury Social Insurance Scheme
Cover page of the ILO Preliminary Feasibility Study for a National Employment Injury Social Insurance Scheme

Supporting Document

Preliminary Feasibility Study for the Introduction of a National Employment Injury Social Insurance Scheme

Health Feasibility Study: Health Care, Disability Assessment and Rehabilitation Services
Cover page of the Bangladesh employment injury Health Feasibility Study

Supporting Document

Health Feasibility Study: Health Care, Disability Assessment and Rehabilitation Services

A Proposed Legal Framework for a Bangladesh Employment Injury Insurance Scheme
Cover page of the supporting document for the proposed legal framework of Bangladesh's employment injury scheme

Supporting Document

A Proposed Legal Framework for a Bangladesh Employment Injury Insurance Scheme

Main Findings of Work-Related Injuries in Manufacturing and Service Sectors in Bangladesh with a View to Implement an Employment Injury...
Cover page of the report on the findings on work-related injuries in manufacturing and service sectors in Bangladesh

Supporting Document

Main Findings of Work-Related Injuries in Manufacturing and Service Sectors in Bangladesh with a View to Implement an Employment Injury...

Main Findings of Work-Related Injuries: the Case of Readymade Garment Sector of Bangladesh with a View to Implement an Employment Injury...
Cover page of the report on the findings on work-related injuries in the readymade garments sector in Bangladesh

Supporting Document

Main Findings of Work-Related Injuries: the Case of Readymade Garment Sector of Bangladesh with a View to Implement an Employment Injury...

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