In a statement, the party said the blast has so far left at least four workers dead and eight injured, while concerns remain over one worker who is still missing.

The New Left said the immediate priority is supporting the injured and the victims’ families, and fully clarifying the fate of the missing worker. At the same time, it called for a full, independent and transparent investigation into both the causes of the explosion and fire and the safety conditions under which employees were working at the factory.

‘The protection of human life and safety in the workplace is not a cost,’ the statement said. ‘It is a non-negotiable obligation of the State and employers.’ The party argued that government policy has failed to meet that obligation, pointing to what it described as ‘negative records’ in workplace deaths.

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