Bangladesh’s labour inspectorate has taken another step forward in ensuring quality labour management in the country’s ready-made garment sector with the launch of a mobile version of its inspection application.
The Labour Inspection Management Application (LIMA) system was launched earlier this year to facilitate better data management and reporting, which in turn aims to enhance effectiveness, transparency and accountability. It is being used by labour inspectors to plan and conduct inspections with information being stored in a central database. The system can also be used for factory owners to apply for licences as well as reporting accidents and injuries.
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Yesterday (6 March), the Bangladesh Government launched a mobile version of the system, with around 250 android tablets handed over to the Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) to be used during inspections.
“LIMA is a milestone in the march towards digital Bangladesh and testament to the commitment of the Government to ensure that every workplace is a safe workplace and that the rights of workers are respected,” Minister of Labour and Employment, Md Mujibul Haque, said at the launch in Dhaka.
The development of LIMA has been supported by the International Labour Organization’s ‘Improving Working Conditions in the Bangladesh Ready Made Garment Sector‘ programme funded by Canada, the Netherlands and the UK.
LIMA comprises four modules: A factory/establishments database module for the online application of factory layout plans and licences; a labour inspection module for inspection planning, data collection and reporting (information gathered during inspections is fed directly into the LIMA database where it can be used to inform management decisions); and an Occupational Safety and Health module for notifications relating to workplace accidents.
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By GlobalDataOther LIMA modules are used for the tracking of remediation work of garment factories under the National Initiative as well as for following up on DIFE’s internal operational activities.
It also features a ‘DIFE Complaint Box’ that allows workers or employers to make a complaint to DIFE about workplace issues. This can be done either through the LIMA website or via a smart phone app.
The Inspector General of DIFE, Mr Md. Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan, highlighted the importance of the new system. “The launch of LIMA marks the beginning of a new chapter for the labour inspectorate. It will make our operations more effective and thereby help to enhance the welfare and safety of working people and also improve productivity of industries. It will also help DIFE to generate a variety of reports.”
It is hoped LIMA will make DIFE’s operations more effective by combining its key data gathering and management needs in one platform. It will also enhance data accessibility and transparency by making certain information available to employers and workers while facilitating day-to-day tasks such as factory licence applications or the submission of complaints.
Also speaking at the launch, Snehal Soneji, Officer in Charge of the ILO, said: “The LIMA system is much more than inspectors simply using a tablet computer instead of a pen and paper. It represents the progress made in the reform of the labour inspectorate and the commitment of DIFE’s leadership to digitalisation and transparency.”
