re: #188 Vicious Babushka

Not only that, but the death toll from the factory collapse has now topped 930+.

Another Bangladesh factory fire kills 8 as collapse toll hits 930: apne.ws/15rUrjq

— lawhawk (@lawhawk) May 9, 2013

And I doubt any Bangladeshi official knows how many factories were built illegally - or operate under unsafe conditions by any rational standard (insufficient exits in case of emergency, locked exits, overloaded floors and structural problems, etc.).

The factory collapse occurred because of the owners’ greed. They wanted a bigger factory and crammed in extra floors illegally atop a design meant for five stories. Then, even after warnings from their own engineer who thought there was problems with the structure, the owner said for workers to get back in there and made threats to boot. Just hours after the engineer went on tv about the problems, the building collapsed.

Nearly a thousand people died in an eight story building.

A government that was powerless and turned a blind eye to public safety in buildings didn’t have the means or ability to shut down the factory or demand fixes before people were let back in. Again - greed and avarice play a role. The garments have to be made and it’s a huge part of the country’s economy so anything that might be seen as hindering the industry can’t be allowed - even if it threatens public safety.

That’s an attitude that must change - not only in Bangladesh, but elsewhere around the world that treats workers like disposable trash.