In 1999 a female garment worker was laid off from Chittagong EPZ’s Yang-Wan garments due to sickness. At the end of the year, the news came to the sight of the owner of the company in Seoul. South Korean owner Mr. Kiakki San wanted to know the exact reason. The garment authority informed him that the woman had TB. Mr. San was surprised and shocked to know that and ordered back to reinstate her job. He pointed out that TB is a curable disease and no one should lose job for such reason. Unfortunately the woman did not come back to job although she was notified about her job.

After this occurrence, the owner step forward to cure all TB patients in all of his companies. He has 19 firms in Chittagong EPZ where 26000 workers work. He facilitated for all of his employees to diagnose TB disease and ensure treatment for the identified persons. Through his personal effort, Yang-Wan Group managed to inaugurate a hospital for TB treatment in October 2001. At the beginning, availability of medicine was a major problem. They had to buy medicine from outer source and supply to the patients. Later with the help of NTP (National Tuberculosis Programme) and Yang-Wan Groups’ medical centre’s initiative, they launched DOTS for TB treatment. The company set a rule that an employee will get holidays as per doctors’ advise whenever gets TB. Lay off is out of question. Moreover patient will get economic support. But the infected persons must come to the hospital and take medicine regularly. Contagious TB patients can get up to three weeks holidays. Patients not only stay in job here but also get free treatment and friendly physicians as additional blessings.

Now, Yang-Wan Groups’ all companies of Chittagong EPZ like garments, shoe factories etc. have brought all employees within TB treatment facilities. Other organizations in the country should follow its’ footsteps. Yang-Wan Group has set a milestone of employer-employee friendship for all of us.
Senior Medical Officer Dr. Shyamal kanti Barua informed about workers health facilities in Yang-Wan medical centre. There are 20 physicians in three medical centers. Dirrectly Observed Treatment System is available in only one firm of Bangladesh which is Yang-Wan and it is self-managed. A laboratory is running here since 21st January 2002 where doctors’ referred patients’ coughs are to test. One medical centre of Chittagong EPZ is 24 hours open. Doctors, technologists, pharmacists who work in these medical centers have high level of training. Mr. Kiakki San has observed the treatment process of TB in Korea during 1995-96. A trainee from Bangladesh was detected with TB in Korea. To arrange his treatment there, Mr. San gathered experience about TB treatment. After the layoff incidence in Bangladesh in 1999, he took the matter very seriously. He invited the inventor of DOTS, professor Isikawa of Tokyo TB Institute, to his Chittagong firm. In 2001 professor Isikawa unveil the DOTS center of Yang-Wan Group where NTP is now supplying TB medicine free of charge.
If a worker is found as ‘smear positive’, he gets three weeks holiday. In case of Bone-TB, holiday increases. All firms of Yang-Wan Group follow WHO’s “TB Control Guidelines in Workplace’.
Up to 2007 they have found 217 TB patients in all their firms. Among them 87-90% were cured after treatment. 5 MDR (Multi Drug Resistant) patients were found in three medical centers that were sent to Dhaka TB Hospital for relevant treatment.

Workers of the company informed that they get necessary treatment from the medical centers if attacked by TB. They get holidays with payment. Not only that, Friendly behavior from doctors, availability of free medicine and treatment, job safety etc. have tied them with the company with great devotion which could be ideal for others to follow.


Newspaper: Janakantha
Date: 20th June, 2007
Translated by: Mir Laila Ferdous