International Workers’ Day, often referred to May Day, arrives each year as both a celebration and a reminder. As Bangladesh observes the occasion this year on Friday, it once again carries the dual weight - honouring workers’ rights while reflecting on how fragile those rights remain. Rooted in the 19th century struggle for an eight-hour workday, May Day continues to echo with demands for dignity, safety and justice for the labourers across the world. And in Bangladesh, those echoes are inseparable from the memory of the Rana Plaza collapse.
Rana Plaza: A Tragedy That Redefined an Industry
In the morning of 24 April 2013, thousands of garment workers entered the Rana Plaza building in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka. The day before, visible cracks had appeared in the structure, prompting concerns about its safety. While shops and a bank in the building had closed, garment workers were reportedly instructed to return under pressure to meet production deadlines. Within hours, the building collapsed, killing 1,138 people and injuring around 1,000 others.
This made the incident one of the deadliest industrial disasters in modern history. The images of twisted steel, shattered concrete and desperate rescue efforts shocked the world. But for those who lived through it, the tragedy did not end when the rubble was cleared.
Survivors Living with Lasting Trauma
For survivors, Rana Plaza remains a deeply personal memory – one that resurfaces in quiet moments and restless nights. Many sustained life-altering injuries. Others carry invisible scars: trauma, anxiety, and a lasting fear of enclosed spaces.
A significant number never returned to factory work, instead taking up lower-paying, less stable jobs to survive. For families who lost loved ones, the loss has been equally enduring. Breadwinners were gone in an instant, leaving behind dependents with uncertain futures. Compensation efforts provided some relief, but for many, it was never enough to rebuild what had been lost.
Reforms and the Push for Factory Safety
In the years that followed, Rana Plaza became a turning point for Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) industry. Under intense international scrutiny, sweeping reforms were introduced. Global initiatives such as the Accord on Fire and Building Safety and the Alliance for Bangladesh Workers’ Safety led to large-scale inspections of factories. Structural weaknesses were identified and addressed, fire safety systems upgraded, and electrical hazards corrected.
Today, a large share of Bangladesh’s garment factories meet international compliance standards. The country has emerged as a global leader in environmentally certified “green” factories, with dozens receiving top ratings for sustainability. The formation of the RMG Sustainability Council brought together manufacturers, global brands and labour representatives to continue monitoring safety standards.
Progress in Safety, Gaps in Dignity
Workers themselves acknowledge some of these changes. Many now work in buildings with improved ventilation, designated fire exits, and regular safety drills. Compared to the pre-2013 era, the physical risks inside factories have undeniably decreased.
Yet, beneath these improvements lies a more complex reality. Safety, in its broader sense, remains elusive for many workers. While buildings may no longer collapse, the pressures of the industry persist. Long working hours, low wages and limited job security continue to shape daily life on the factory floor. Workers often struggle to meet rising living costs, and demands for a living wage remain largely unmet.
For female workers, who make up the majority of the workforce, the challenges are even greater. Many women face harassment, discrimination, and barriers to career advancement. Access to healthcare, childcare and social protection is still limited, leaving them vulnerable both inside and outside the workplace.
Global Supply Chains and Pressure from Above
Analysts argue that the reforms introduced after Rana Plaza have focused too narrowly on structural safety ensuring that buildings stand, but not necessarily that workers thrive.
The global supply chain plays a significant role in this dynamic. International brands continue to demand fast production at low costs, placing pressure on local manufacturers. In turn, that pressure often trickles down to workers through tight deadlines, mandatory overtime, and cost-cutting measures that affect wages and benefits.
Pandemic Exposure of Structural Weaknesses
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed these vulnerabilities with stark clarity. As global brands cancelled orders worth billions of dollars, factories faced sudden financial strain. Many workers were furloughed or laid off without pay. Savings quickly ran out, and lakhs of labourers struggled to afford basic necessities.
Reports from that period painted a troubling picture: widespread anxiety, food insecurity, and a lack of safety nets. For many workers, the pandemic was not just a health crisis; it was a reminder of how precarious their livelihoods truly are.
If Rana Plaza revealed the dangers of unsafe buildings, the pandemic revealed the dangers of an unequal system. Perhaps the most painful reminder of that system’s shortcomings is the ongoing delay in justice.
Thirteen Years On, Justice Still Unresolved
Thirteen years after the collapse, the criminal case related to Rana Plaza remains unresolved. Court proceedings have been repeatedly stalled, largely due to the absence of witnesses. Out of nearly 600 listed witnesses, only a fraction has testified. Some accused individuals remain absconding, while others are out on bail.
Efforts have been made to accelerate the process. Authorities have issued arrest warrants and urged witnesses to appear. Yet progress remains slow.
For survivors and families of victims, the delay is more than a legal issue; it is an emotional burden. Each postponed hearing prolongs a sense of uncertainty, leaving them without closure. Many continue to struggle with injuries, trauma and financial hardship, often with limited long-term support.
The absence of a final verdict has come to symbolise a broader challenge: the difficulty of holding powerful actors accountable in complex, high-profile cases. Beyond the courtroom, Rana Plaza raises deeper questions about the nature of development and the cost at which it comes.
Growth of the Garment Sector and Its Tensions
Bangladesh’s garment sector has grown rapidly over the past decade, becoming a pillar of the national economy and a major source of employment. But this growth has also created tensions between economic priorities and workers’ rights. The industry’s importance means that the interests of businesses and the state are often closely aligned, sometimes at the expense of labour protections.
Global supply chains further complicate this picture, with power concentrated among international buyers who dictate terms, leaving suppliers and ultimately workers with limited bargaining power.
May Day as a Call Beyond Commemoration
Against this backdrop, May Day serves as both a commemoration and a call to action. It is a day to recognise the progress made since 2013 – the safer factories, the stronger regulations, the increased awareness. But it is also a day to acknowledge what remains unfinished.
True safety is not only about buildings that do not collapse. It is about wages that allow workers to live with dignity, working conditions that respect their humanity, and systems that protect them in times of crisis. Yet, thirteen years after Rana Plaza collapse, Bangladesh stands at a crossroads, where visible reforms coexist with unresolved injustice.
Rana Plaza’s Continuing Legacy in Bangladesh
The industry has transformed in many visible ways, but the absence of justice continues to cast a long shadow over these achievements. For many, the phrase “justice delayed is justice denied” is not just a saying; it is a lived reality.
As the country marks May Day, the legacy of Rana Plaza endures. It is present in the lives of survivors, in the demands of workers, and in the ongoing struggle for fairness and accountability. Until justice is delivered and until progress reaches beyond compliance to truly improve lives, the promise of workers’ rights in Bangladesh will remain only partially fulfilled.
