Access to remediation finance

Bangladesh experienced several industrial accidents between 2012-13, in the aftermath of which safety inspections were conducted in virtually all export-oriented ready-made garment (RMG) factories.

Scores of these factories required essential remediation to make them safe. However, many factory owners lacked the finances to carry out the urgent safety repairs and risked going out of business.

In this circumstance, a number of development partners established low interest (4-7%) credit facilities to support the remediation repair costs.

The ILO's Improving Working Conditions in Bangladesh Ready-Made Garment Sector programme promoted these schemes among employers to help them access the available finance packages.

This publication highlights the case of a factory, Smart Knit Limited and presents how it received remediation funding and used the credit to make its workplace safer.