Experts at a workshop on Saturday recommended declaring the heatwave as a disaster, and providing humanitarian assistance to the families of deceased due to extreme heat, and inclusion of heat issues in climate change related policy and plans.
They also spoke in favour of promoting adaptive social protection for heat stress areas, and considering heat management as part of environmental compliance in Bangladesh Labour Act.
Speakers also underscored the need for enhancing capacity and innovation to support livelihoods particularly in climate-affected regions by ensuring access to decent jobs and fair wages, and promoting occupational health and well-being.
The Bangladesh Occupational Safety Health and Environment (OSHE) Foundation organised this workshop to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work at a city hotel.
Prof D Tawhidul Islam, Director of Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS of Jahangirnagar University, presented a paper on Impacts of Climate Change on Life Livelihood and Occupational Health of Working People in Bangladesh.
In his paper, Prof Tawhid mentioned that, due to heatwave, workers can lose 25 per cent of total working hours, which are predicted losses of Tk 500 million in two months of a year.
Dr SM Morshed, vice chairperson of Bangladesh OSHE Foundation, referring to an external research report mentioned that Bangladesh could lose apparel export earnings of nearly $27 billion and losses of 0.25 million jobs by 2030 due to extreme heat.
He also added that Dhaka is losing $6 billion worth of labour productivity each year due to heat stress from extreme temperature, and this amounts up to 8 per cent of the annual labour output in Dhaka.
OSHE Foundation Chairperson Saki Rezwana presided over the session.
In another technical session, AKM Masum ul Alam, renowned OSH expert, spoke on “Biochemical and Biological Hazard in Workplace.”
The session was also addressed by labour leader Aminur Haque Amin, Josinta Zinia, Associate Professor of Bangladesh University of Professionals and Professor, Dr Md Tazul Islam Chowdhury of Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University.
A total of 40 representatives from government agencies, trade unions, research organizations and civil society attended the programme.
