Govt to introduce green factory award
The government has made a decision to introduce a Green Factory Award to make sure workplace safety for the workers, safeguard the environment from pollution and keep maintaining compliance with international standards.
On Sunday, the labour and occupation ministry issued a gazette notification on the "Green Factory Award Policy" as the united states looks to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, which require urgent actions to combat climate modification and its own impacts by regulating emissions.
The award will be presented to the entities considering the utilization of eco-friendly construction materials, access to sunlight, the use of solar power in the factory, accommodation, schools, marketplaces and bus stands for the personnel within acceptable distances from the factory, enough free space on the factory premises, and the firefighting system.
Besides, the application of modern technologies may also be taken into account even while picking the winners.
"Through the award, you want to inspire the factory owners to keep compliances," said Md Rezaul Haque, yet another secretary of the labour and work ministry.
"I hope the award can help increase the productivity of factories and assure place of work safety for the personnel."
An analysis committee will primarily submit a proposal or advice to the core committee of the ministry for scrutiny of the number of awards to get in each sector.
A complete of 30 awards will get to several sectors, with the best five awards for an individual industry.
The federal government approved the policy at a time when the garment sector has about 34 platinum-rated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green garment factories, certified by the US Green Building Council.
Following the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in April 2013, overseas communities raised concerns over the garment sector's compliance with global standards.
Native apparel producers took incredible initiatives to create green factories, improve workplace safety and protect the environment from industrial pollution.
And right now, with the new award, the federal government also wants to assure proper make use of effluent treatment plants, create great perceptions about green factories in the united states and abroad, boost the participation of personnel in the advancement of industries, and generate new prospects in other industries together with the garments.
The award has been introduced to tag the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It'll be presented on the World Day for Security and Health at Work, which is noticed on April 28.
The evaluation committee will also assess a factory's safety precautions, cleanliness, adequate and efficient ventilation and lighting at factories, tolerable noise and comfortable warmth, low carbon emissions, registered doctors and nurses for the personnel and best electrical fittings furthermore to state-of-the-art equipment in order to avoid accidents.
For environmental compliances, the committee will look into the factory's approval from worried authorities, waste management, ETP operations, dust, smoke or pollution control, the quality of normal water, toilets, laundry and laundry facilities, chemical and other risk management to protect workers, and energy efficiency.
The eligible factory must have trade unions, preserve accident register, provide compensation, form safety committee, deposit dividends to the worker's welfare foundation, empower women, take part in corporate social responsibility activities for employees, and make certain maternity benefits, daycare centres and breastfeeding facilities.
All the activities of an industry from January to December might be studied into consideration. The procedure to supply the award will become completed between December and April.
The short-stated factories will be inspected by a team comprising the worried officers from any office of the inspector standard of the Division of Inspection for Factories and Establishments.
The investigation team will provide the analysis committee with the right documents, photographs and video images and evidence for the final selection.
All registered and updated factories beneath the department will be considered for the award.
The final assessment depends on 100 marks. Factories with the very least rating of 70 will get recommended by the analysis committee for the award.
The award-recipient will receive a medal, certification, crest and Tk 1 lakh.
