From VOA Learning English, this is In The News.
Labor groups1, businesses2 and people around the world are condemning3 the human cost
Labor groups1, businesses2 and people around the world are condemning3 the human cost
of a building4 collapse5 in Bangladesh. More than 500 people are confirmed dead6 after the building failure7 on April 24th.
In the capital, Dhaka, tens of thousands8 of
In the capital, Dhaka, tens of thousands8 of
textile workers9 ended a week-long10 protest and reported to their jobs on Thursday.
The collapsed building had housed11 several12 clothing factories13. The workers had launched14 the protest to
Demand15 better working conditions.
The $20 billion dollar textile industry in Bangladesh makes up16 80 percent of the country’s exports17. Bangladesh’s Garment18 Manufacturers19 and Exporters20 Association says it is working to prevent21 future incidents.
The $20 billion dollar textile industry in Bangladesh makes up16 80 percent of the country’s exports17. Bangladesh’s Garment18 Manufacturers19 and Exporters20 Association says it is working to prevent21 future incidents.
Association representative22 Shahidullah Azim says his
group is working with government officials. He says the team will move immediately to report23 unsafe24 conditions to
the government.
However25, clothing workers and activists say
However25, clothing workers and activists say
they have heard26 similar promises27 before.
Just six months ago28, more than100 people were killed29 in a factory fire30 in Dhaka.
The day before31 the building collapse, an engineer warned32 of cracks33 in the structure. Some concerned34
The day before31 the building collapse, an engineer warned32 of cracks33 in the structure. Some concerned34
Business owners35 had sent36 workers home.
Alonzo Suson works with the Bangladesh Center for Workers' Solidarity. He is not sure37 whether38 working conditions will change39 when most textile workers earn40 less than $50 a month. He tells of a 16-year-old who was told she would lose41 a week’s pay if she failed to enter the factory.
Doctors had to remove the young woman’s arm42 after she was severely injured43 in the collapse. Alonzo Suson says clothing workers cannot refuse44 to work in
Alonzo Suson works with the Bangladesh Center for Workers' Solidarity. He is not sure37 whether38 working conditions will change39 when most textile workers earn40 less than $50 a month. He tells of a 16-year-old who was told she would lose41 a week’s pay if she failed to enter the factory.
Doctors had to remove the young woman’s arm42 after she was severely injured43 in the collapse. Alonzo Suson says clothing workers cannot refuse44 to work in
unsafe conditions. He says some workers know the place45 where they work is unsafe. But the workers need the job to survive46.
Mr. Suson says Bangladesh’s clothing industry needs more inspectors and laws47 for building
Mr. Suson says Bangladesh’s clothing industry needs more inspectors and laws47 for building
safety48. He says only 25
to 30 factories have labor unions49, and most were organized in the past six months.
In Dhaka, police have detained50 the owner of the collapsed building. Some protesters51 say he should be sentenced todeath52. Police have also53 arrested54 factory owners and building engineers for ignoring safety issues55.
Activists say people overseas56 must57 also take responsibility58 – both59 those who sell clothing and buyers60 of the clothes made in unsafe factories.
On Thursday61, the European Union said it may change62 its trade agreement63 with Bangladesh. The EU called on Bangladeshi officials to ensure64 that the country’s factories obey65 international labor rules66.
Europe is Bangladesh’s largest trading
In Dhaka, police have detained50 the owner of the collapsed building. Some protesters51 say he should be sentenced todeath52. Police have also53 arrested54 factory owners and building engineers for ignoring safety issues55.
Activists say people overseas56 must57 also take responsibility58 – both59 those who sell clothing and buyers60 of the clothes made in unsafe factories.
On Thursday61, the European Union said it may change62 its trade agreement63 with Bangladesh. The EU called on Bangladeshi officials to ensure64 that the country’s factories obey65 international labor rules66.
Europe is Bangladesh’s largest trading
partner67. Ineke Zeldenrust is with the activist Clean
Clothes Campaign in Europe.
She says western68 clothing stores69 have ignored warnings about the dangerous70 conditions in foreign71 factories. She says Western businesses must promise72 to pay more to clothing manufacturers and
Demand73 safer74 factories.
Vocabulary
1. Labor groups= grupos de trabalho
2. businesses = empresas
3. condemning = condenando
4. building = prédio
5. collapse = desabamento
6. dead = morto
7. failure = falha
8. tens of thousands = dezenas de milhares
9. textile workers = trabalhadores da area textile
10. week-long = de uma semana de duração
11. housed = abrigava
12. several = diversos, vários
13. clothing factories = fábricas de roupas
14. had launched = tinham lançado
15. demand = exigir
16. makes up = constitui
17. exports = exportações
18. Garment = vestuário
19. Manufacturers = fabricantes
20. Exporters = exportadores
21. prevent = evitar
22. representative = representante
23. report = relatar
24. unsafe = inseguro
25. However = contudo
26. heard = ouviram
27. similar promises = promessas semelhantes
28. Just six months ago = apenas seis meses atrás
29. were killed = foram mortos
30. fire = incêndio
31. The day before = o dia anterior
32. Warned = alertou
33. cracks = rachaduras
34. concerned = preocuparam
35. owners = proprietaries
36. had sent = tinham enviado
37. is not sure = não tem certeza
38. whether = se (ou não)
39. change = mudar
40. earn = ganhar (rendimentos)
41. would lose = perderia
42. arm = braço
43. severely injured = ferido(a) gravemente
44. cannot refuse = não podem recusar
45. place = lugar
46. survive = sobreviver
47. laws = leis
48. safety = segurança
49. labor unions = sindicatos trabalhistas
50. detained = deteve, prendeu
51. protesters = manifestantes
52. should be sentenced to death = deveria ser sentenciado à morte
53. also = também
54. arrested = prendeu
55. issues = questões
56. overseas = no estrangeiro
57. must = devem
58. take responsibility = assumir responsabilidade
59. both = ambos
60. buyers = compradores
61. Thursday = Quinta-feira
62. may change = pode mudar
63. trade agreement = acordo commercial
64. ensure = assegurar
65. obey = obedecer
66. labor rules = regras trabalhistas
67. partner = parceiro
68. western = ocidental
69. clothing stores = lojas de roupas
70. dangerous = perigoso
71. foreign = estrangeiro(a)
72. must promise = devem prometer
73. demand = exigir
74. safer = mais seguro(a)
