Rana Plaza Collapse: A Case Study of Occupational Health and Safety

You remember the news from April 2024 where 14 workers died in a Mumbai garment factory fire? I was going through the case and it reminded me of Section 33(2) of the Factories Act, 1948. This section states that no owner or occupier of a factory shall discharge any worker or punish him in respect of the exercise by the worker of any right conferred on him by or under this Act. The workers who died were fighting against the factory owner's refusal to provide safety measures. The owner allegedly didn't comply with the safety norms, leading to the tragic accident. This incident is a direct result of non-compliance with Occupational Health and Safety regulations. If only the owner had adhered to the standards, many lives could have been saved.