Imran Hossain used to live with his parents in the Dombaria village of Cumilla District. Considering his parents advanced age, he decided to take a job, so that they could retire peacefully under his care. In 2018, he joined ABM Fashion and moved to Gazipur, a hub of garment factories in Bangladesh.
“He was the only hope I had left in my life after already losing all of my other children,” says his mother, Jahanara Begum.
In 2023, her hopes were extinguished when Imran died in a factory accident. Both Jahanara and her husband, Johirul Hoque, were in shock and disbelief at the loss of their only remaining child, a sense of desolation and hopelessness dawning as they contemplated their future.
Looking at a photo of Imran and his cousins, Johirul could not hold back his pain and tears saying: “All of them are alive but my son. Now, no one calls me in the evening to check on me”.
He however found solace and a friend in Imran’s employer, ABM Fashion, who promptly reported the fatal accident and prepared all the required documentation Imran’s parents would need to apply for compensation through an Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) being piloted in Bangladesh.
The EIS project is undertaken by the Government of Bangladesh, employers’ and workers’ organizations with technical support from German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). It aims to provide income security to workers injured and disabled at work, or the families of workers like Imran, who die because of workplace accidents. The financial compensation is funded by international garment brands.
“In ABM Fashion, we prioritize compliance and safety issues. After Imran’s accident, we immediately provided one-time support to Imran’s family and took necessary steps so that his parents do not feel completely helpless,” says Eng. Badius Salam, the Executive Director.
With their help, now, Imran’s parents are also getting monthly pension payments from the EIS pilot and are able to lead a financially secure life.
“Imran was working with us for more than five years, so he was like family. I think, it’s our duty to look after each other in times of hardships’, says Tanveer Rahman, General Manager of the factory.
ABM Fashion set an extraordinary example that with a collective and effective support system, workers and their families impacted by any accident can be provided all the necessary help.
