Majority of the 5,457 factories and establishments located in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) area have been in operation without having prior approval, officials said.
Ministry of labour and employment through a third party recently conducted a survey to list the number of factories and establishments engaged in production in the area, they said.
The survey found 5,457 such units, excluding shops, under 26 categories in operation and 5,000 of those did not have DIFE's (Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments) licences.
When asked, additional secretary of labour ministry Shahjahan Mia said, "The main objective of the survey was to have a real picture of the factories and establishments running in the DSCC area, their number, safety issues and compliance status, and how many have legal approval and get their licences renewed annually."
The labour ministry got the report recently and sent it to the DIFE for next course of action after the Chawkbazar fire incident that killed at least 69 people, ministry sources said.
Out of 5,457 units, some 1,072 are engaged in apparel manufacturing, 1,004 in rubber and plastic products making, 731 in printing and packaging, according to the survey findings.
Some 727 units are leather and related products makers, 558 basic metal manufacturers, 308 machinery and equipment producer, 240 recycling factories, 222 furniture producers, 140 food products, 113 machinery and equipment installation establishments, 92 fabricated metal producers and 66 are electrical equipment manufacturers.
The rest 56 are paper and paper products manufacturers, 52 pharmaceuticals and chemicals producers, 34 handicraft manufacturers, 33 office stationary manufacturers and, nine trailers and semi-trailers makers.
When communicated, the DIFE acting inspector general Amar Chan Banik told the FE that they are working on the issue.
Another DIFE official said they will scrutinise the issue once all the inspectors of Dhaka division complete their existing task of preparing the database of factories and establishments especially plastics, chemicals and those deal with flammable items and located in Old Dhaka.
The DIFE will examine all establishments after getting the latest list and examine strategy on how to bring the non-approved units under regulation and to improve labour situation there, he noted.
DIFE officials, however, opined that many of them might not get licence with their existing facility as they do not meet the minimum compliance requirement according to the law of the land.
For example, they said that an industrial unit or a factory must have at least five workers and two exits, among others.
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