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Housing for Tannery Workers, Savar

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Overview:
Tannery industries has developed throughout the span of almost 60 years
Within that timeframe other ancillary facilities grew with the increase of demand
The surrounding area also developed accordingly
For a industry that huge shifting it to a new site is a big event for this the sector
The question remains what will happen, how will the existing workforce
accommodate themselves

Part A
Tannery industry in timeline and the growth of its neighboring areas to the present
condition

Part B
New site Savar; its existing condition
Part C
Exploring Possible outcome: assumptions, possibilities, merit and demerits

Part A Existing condition of Hazaribagh


Timeline:

1940s

R.P Saha set up first


tannery in
Narayanganj back in
1940.

Part A Existing condition of Hazaribagh


Timeline:

1940s

1971

Factories set up in Hazaribagh


dominated by non-Bengali migrants
limited to the production of wet blue leather
A few small tanning units belonged to Bengali
entrepreneurs who processed leather mainly
for the domestic market.

Part A Existing condition of Hazaribagh


Timeline:

1940s

1971

Factories set up in Hazaribagh


dominated by non-Bengali migrants
limited to the production of wet blue leather
A few small tanning units belonged to Bengali
entrepreneurs who processed leather mainly
for the domestic market.

Part A Existing condition of Hazaribagh


Timeline:

1940s

1971

2016

220 processing units

Total capital invested in the tannery industry is estimated at Tk


2.5 billion, of which government/bank finance is about Tk 1.2
billion.
currently produces about 20.0 million sq. meters of leather
and leather goods per year.

Part A Existing condition


Demography:
5000 people work and more than 10,000
are depended on this sector
Dwell in the fringe of Char Kamrangi
along the riverside where the rents are
cheap
Other workers live nearby the factory
areas
Different amenities grew as per demand
and requirement in much like an organic
way with an time span of more than 40
years

Percentage of workers

Part A Existing condition

Male

5
15

Female
Child
80

Demography:
Male-80%, Female-15%, Child-3-5%.

86% of tannery workers are deprived of


appointment letter.
But those who are unionized 60% are
having appointment letter,
59% of the workers did not get ID Card,
65% of the workers are temporary (are
not getting permanent workers facility),
40% of the workers have a minimum
three years plus job period.

Appointment Letter
No appointment
letter

14

Has appointment
letter

Job Permanency

86

35

Temporary
65
Permanent

Part A Existing condition


Survey: the surrounding areas gradually
developed for a span of 40 years
And the land owners built the houses according
to the need and demand

Survey:

Open shaft although structurally not feasible,


their arrangement pose for flexible design
Lightwell for light and ventilation

Corridor with
common toilet
facilities

Part B New site, Savar


Relocation:

1940s

20182020

20032006
1971

2016

the government took a project from 2003 to 2006 to relocate the


tanneries from Hazaribagh to the Savar Tannery Estate.
to provide infrastructural facilities to the tannery entrepreneurs by
establishing an environmentally suitable tannery estate for
development and modernization of the industry
implemented on 200 acres of land. There are 205 plots and 155
industrial units will be set up there.
The total cost -Tk 1078.71 crore .Tk 250- compensation for tannery
owners. The CETP, Dumping Yard, STP, SPGS and SWMS cost is Tk
638.79 crore.

Part B New site, Savar


Site and surroundings:

Site and surroundings:


The site is surrounded by paddy
fields and river
The booming garments industry
with workers dorm are located
along the main Dhaka-Aricha
highway

Part B New site, Savar


Land Allocation
The government was supposed to acquire 200 acre in total for
other ancillary facilities
They even air marked the area
But unfortunately the government failed to acquire the land
So the question remains on the future condition of how the
workers are going to live
Job Security and continuation of job is not ensured at all.
No compensation package yet been declared neither by the
Government nor by the employers for the workers who do not
want to shift to Savar.
Housing and medical facilities of shifting workers is also ignored
till now. Even though, there are no provisions for education in the
said shifting location.

Part B New site, Savar


A round table, titled "Relocation of Hazaribagh Tanneries: Workers Perspective" was
held on 23rd December 2015jointly organized by Bangladesh Labour Welfare
Foundation-BLF and Tannery Workers Union.

At the some recommendations were given


as to provide low-cost housing facilities in Savar Tannery Estate for the workers,
allot plot for workers to have long term residence,
ensure Job security for the workers,
review the wage for all workers in tannery considering wages in other sector and
initiatives from MoLE to manage MoHFW for workers hospital and Labour
Welfare Center.

Part B New site, Savar


Before shifting, Ensure all facilities for the workers including Ensure Job security, Job continuation and compensation for the workers in the new
Tannery Estate.
Housing/Accommodation facilities in Savar Tannery Estate for the workers so that they
can feel secured with their family in the new area. Alternatively allot plot for workers to
have a long term residence.
Ensure Medical facility
School/college for children of workers , Prayer places, Play Ground, Club & Trade Union
office in/surroundings of the Tannery Estate
A time specific plan should be prepared for monitoring the commitment of the tannery
owners for ensuring basic needs in the new industrial estate. This can also be made
under public private partnership
Declare a compensation package for the workers who do not want to shift from
Hazaribagh to Savar

Part B New site, Savar


ILO Conventions 87 & 98 and Bangladesh Labour Law should be followed to ensure
workers welfare such as Appointment Letter, ID Card, Minimum Wage, Maternity
Benefits and others
Review the minimum wage for the workers as declared by the Minimum wage board or
else ask the Government to form new wage board and finalize the Minimum Wage
based on the current market expenditure
Include Tannery Workers in Social Safety net Schemes of the Government of Bangladesh
Establish specialized training center to bring a chain of skill workers for the Tannery
Industry
Ensure regular inspection and follow up in the factories for a decent working
environment
Conduct comprehensive training for the workers as well as management of the factories
Ensure freedom of association and right to bargain in the new Tannery Estate
Develop a central fund for the workers welfare

Part C Exploring possible outcome


A. Create a low income low cost housing for the Workers, (as recommended in
round Table discussion)
Government still need to acquire land which will be hard because of the
establishment the tannery estate land price will go up
Financing the low cost housing will require a lot of money and investment
If not, they will be needing help from the NGO to provide the housing
facilities
Rental housing scheme or home loan might be needed to provide which is a
huge burden for the workers without job security

Part C Exploring possible outcome


Case Study :Malabar cement company Township
Introduction: This project was built in Kerela for an
enlightened client who recognized the need for lower
income families to have to have access to open land in
order to keep poultry, kitchen gardens, and so forth and
thus augment their income.
Again the idea of a company town often located in
remote areas or outskirts is to provide a self-contained
living environment for employees directly connected to
the physical production plant.
The Design: the design challenge was how to achieve
higher densities (involving both ground floor and upper
floor housing units,) and yet provide each family with
and for a kitchen garden.

Part C Exploring possible outcome


Case Study :Malabar cement company Township
The design was attained by building each block
containing two housing units with attached
kitchen gardens) on the ground floor. A third unit
was placed at an upper level- with an outdoor
terrace on the roof of the adjoining unit, providing
access to the kitchen garden on the ground.

Part C Exploring possible outcome

Case Study :Malabar cement company Township

Each blocks contains two housing units (with attached


kitchen gardens) on the ground floor. A third unit is
placed at the upper level with an outdoor terrace on
the roof providing access to the kitchen garden on the
ground.
Site: There is a heavily wooded promontory jutting out
to the Walayer Lake. The site plan organizes some 400
housing units grouped in clusters of twelve along the
pedestrian spine. Some parts of the spine are bridged
to create larger units and delineate public spaces. The
township is served by a simple loop road which is also
used to reach picnic spots along the edge of the lake.

Part C Exploring possible outcome


B. Help finance the local Land owners to build houses
Hugely unplanned
Lack proper infrastructure such as school, market, hospital
It will take a lot of time to build and get investment for the financial help
Rent may go up with the rise of the demand
But,
It will be affordable for the workers
Not much burden of load
The accommodation process will be able to identify and meet the needs in a
first hand basis
Ultimately reduce inflation
The workers will have freedom to relocate according to their needs

Part C Exploring possible outcome


C. Providing basic infrastructure by the government and the owners
less burden for the workers and the government
It will be affordable for the workers
The amount of area to be acquired will be much less
The Government can provide some basic infrastructure and workers can
rebuild with Self Help Scheme

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