[See here for the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre's coverage of the ongoing lawsuit against KiK in Dortmund, Germany.]

"Long-term compensation payment to Baldia Factory fire affectees begins", 20 May 2018

The families of all 209 victims of the Baldia Factory fire incident have started receiving long-term compensation, from the amount provided by the German textile buyer KIK...

Over 250 workers had lost their lives in a deadly fire at the factory located in SITE Baldia industrial area on September 11, 2012. The main buyer, German company KIK Textilien, had provided US $ 1 million immediate relief as a result of signing of an MoU between KIK and PILER... KIK later provided US $ 5.15 million as long-term compensation. The ILO received the money and after calculation of pension rates, now it has started distribution...

PILER’s Executive Director Karamat Ali said it was a collective struggle of many organisations and victims families, who fought their case through international advocacy. He underlined the need for continuation of the struggle for workers rights...

He said without ILO’s intervention this landmark agreement was not possible. The German government had also played a key role in facilitating and focusing on compensation to the victims. He also appreciated the role of German company KIK...

He also suggested formation of a committee that can ensure enforcement of health and safety laws...