Insurance for ship recycling workers mandatory
A new law has been enacted keeping provision of tougher punishment for compliance with safety and environmental standards in ship recycling industry.
The 'Bangladesh Ship Recycling Bill, 2018,' was passed in parliament on Wednesday. It is aimed at giving a further boost to the country's ship recycling industry.
Industries minister Amir Hossain Amu moved the bill which was passed by voice vote. It will turn into law when the president gives assent formality.
According to the bill, a zone will be established in Chittagong for the ship-recycling industry under section 4 of the law. The industry owners will have to set up yards and conduct their activities within the zone.
The law makes it mandatory to issue life insurance for every worker and employee by the owners. The industries will also have to abide by the relevant international laws and conventions.
It said if anyone establishes a yard without permission, the punishment for such offence is maximum two years jail or minimum Tk one million fine or maximum Tk 3 million fine or both.
The punishment for importing ships without a no-objection certificate (NOC) is two years' jail or a fine of minimum Tk one million to maximum Tk 3 million.
If anybody brings a ship ashore and recycles that without NOC certificate, then the punishment is also maximum two years' jail or a fine of minimum Tk one million to maximum Tk 3 million.
The punishment for availing the facility through fake certificate is maximum five years' jail or a fine of minimum Tk 5 lakh or maximum Tk 20 lakh.
In the case of setting up yards outside the zone, the punishment is two years' jail or a fine of minimum Tk 10 lakh or maximum Tk 30 lakh.
Under the new law, a 13-member board will be constituted to oversee the activities of the ship recycling industries with an additional secretary of the Ministry of Industries as its chairman.
The other members of the board include a representative each from the ministries of industries, forests and environment, labour and employment, power, energy and mineral resources and shipping, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Chittagong Port Authority and president of the Ship Recycling Industries Association, and two members from Ship Recycling Industries' Association to be nominated by the government and the director general of the board.
The tenure of each member will be three years after his/her appointment. The board can co-opt anyone taking permission from the industries ministry.
The board will oversee the activities of the ship recycling industries, and it will sit thrice a year.
As per the proposed law, the government will set up Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) within three years after enacting the law for the management of wastage produced from the ship recycling.