What Is DIFE?
DIFE (Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments) is the government agency responsible for workplace safety, factory licensing, and establishment inspection in Bangladesh. It enforces the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 (amended 2013, 2018) and the Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015 regarding occupational health and safety in factories and commercial establishments.
Jurisdiction and Authority
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Geographic scope | Nationwide — all factories and commercial establishments |
| Legal basis | Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015, Boiler Act 1923, Lift Act (proposed) |
| Reporting to | Ministry of Labour and Employment |
| Website | dife.gov.bd |
| Scope | Factories (5+ workers with power, 10+ without), commercial establishments (shops, offices, restaurants) |
Key Functions
- Factory licence: Issue and renew licences for factories to operate
- Workplace inspection: Inspect factories and establishments for safety, health, and welfare compliance
- Lift registration: Register and inspect passenger and goods lifts
- Boiler registration: Register and inspect steam boilers and pressure vessels
- Accident investigation: Investigate workplace accidents and fatalities
- Labour dispute: Mediate labour disputes and enforce labour rights
Factory Licence Process
| Step | Activity | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Application to Chief Inspector of Factories (district level) | Day 1 |
| 2 | Documents: Trade licence, RAJUK plan, fire licence, list of machinery, worker count, layout plan | — |
| 3 | Inspection by DIFE inspector | 2-4 weeks |
| 4 | Compliance verification — safety provisions, welfare facilities, working conditions | — |
| 5 | Licence issuance (or deficiency notice) | 1-2 weeks |
Renewal: Annual. Fee: BDT 500-3,000 depending on worker count.
What DIFE Inspects
| Category | Items Checked | Legal Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Structural safety | Structural integrity certificate, load capacity | Labour Act Section 51A (added post-Rana Plaza) |
| Fire safety | Fire exits, extinguishers, alarm, training, drill records | Labour Act Sections 62-68, Labour Rules Chapter 12 |
| Electrical safety | Wiring condition, earthing, insulation, overload protection | Labour Act Section 61 |
| Ventilation & temperature | Adequate ventilation, temperature control, exhaust for fumes | Labour Act Sections 51-52 |
| Lighting | Adequate natural and artificial lighting | Labour Act Section 53 |
| Sanitation | Toilets (1:25 workers), clean drinking water, waste disposal | Labour Act Sections 54-58 |
| First aid | First aid box per 150 workers, trained first-aider | Labour Act Section 89 |
| Welfare | Canteen (250+ workers), rest room, prayer room, childcare | Labour Act Sections 89-99 |
| Working hours | Max 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week, overtime limits | Labour Act Sections 100-108 |
Lift and Boiler Registration
Lift Registration
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Requirement | All passenger and goods lifts must be registered with Chief Inspector |
| Annual inspection | Safety inspection by DIFE-authorised inspector |
| Documents | Lift specifications, maintenance contract, safety test certificate |
| Common issue | Many lifts in Dhaka operate without registration or annual inspection |
Boiler Registration
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Requirement | All steam boilers and pressure vessels must be registered under Boiler Act 1923 |
| Annual inspection | Hydraulic test and inspection by Chief Inspector of Boilers |
| Documents | Boiler specifications, test certificates, operator competency certificate |
| Penalty | Operating unregistered boiler: fine + imprisonment under Boiler Act |
Post-Rana Plaza Reforms (2013 onwards)
- Section 51A added: Mandatory structural integrity certificate for factories — building owner must provide certificate from licensed engineer
- Remediation tracking: DIFE now tracks corrective action plans (CAPs) for factories found non-compliant
- Inspector capacity: DIFE inspector count increased from ~60 (2013) to ~350+ (current), but still insufficient for ~50,000+ factories
- National Tripartite Plan: Government-ILO-buyer agreement for safety improvements
- RMG Sustainability Council (RSC): Successor to Accord/Alliance — buyer-driven safety inspection programme for garment factories
Practical Guidance
- For factory owners: Obtain and maintain factory licence. Keep structural integrity certificate current. Register lifts and boilers.
- For office occupiers: While DIFE's primary focus is factories, commercial establishments with 10+ workers are also within scope. Ensure basic safety provisions.
- For FM managers: Ensure lift registration is current. If managing a factory building, coordinate with DIFE for annual inspections.
- For MNC tenants: DIFE requirements are the legal minimum. Your corporate EHS standards will typically exceed DIFE requirements — apply the higher standard.
References
- DIFE — Official Website
- Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 (amended 2013, 2018)
- Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015
- Boiler Act 1923
- ILO Bangladesh — Workplace Safety Programme
- RSC — RMG Sustainability Council
Insights & Guidance
- DIFE enforces workplace safety under the Bangladesh Labour Act — covering factories and commercial establishments.
- Factory licence is mandatory and renewed annually. DIFE inspects structural safety, fire, electrical, ventilation, sanitation, and welfare.
- All passenger lifts and steam boilers must be registered with the Chief Inspector and inspected annually.
- Post-Rana Plaza reforms added mandatory structural integrity certificates (Section 51A) for factory buildings.
- DIFE capacity has grown but remains insufficient — ~350 inspectors for ~50,000+ factories. Proactive compliance is essential.
DIFE is the primary workplace safety enforcement body in Bangladesh. For factory operators, DIFE compliance is a legal requirement with serious consequences for non-compliance — including closure orders and criminal liability. For office occupiers, understanding DIFE's scope helps ensure basic safety provisions are in place.
- No factory licence — factory operating illegally, closure risk.
- Unregistered lifts — safety inspection gap, liability in accident.
- Missing structural certificate — post-Rana Plaza requirement, serious legal exposure.
- Current factory licence
- Structural integrity certificate (for factory buildings)
- Lift registration certificates
- Boiler registration and test certificates
- DIFE inspection reports and CAP status
- Is the factory licence displayed?
- Are lifts registered and inspection certificates current?
- Are fire exits and safety provisions as per DIFE requirements?
- Is the factory licence current? When was the last DIFE inspection?
- Are all lifts registered with the Chief Inspector?
- Is there a current structural integrity certificate?
- Labour law — lawyer specialising in Bangladesh Labour Act compliance.
- Structural certificate — licensed structural engineer for Section 51A certificate.
- Safety management — ISO 45001 consultant for systematic safety management.