Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday refuted the report of Alliance that hundreds of local apparel units are still lagging behind safety reforms in line with the suggestions of the buyer group.
“The report was not correct as there were some information gap there,” BGMEA Senior Vice-President Faruque Hassan, told The New Nation on Saturday.
Besides, it did not reflect the real picture about the ongoing safety initiatives taken by the garment entrepreneurs.
“Only 24 of around 700 garment factories inspected in Bangladesh meet international safety standards,” according to the report of Alliance.
The BGMEA leader further said that nothing wrong with the report if it said about 24 out of 700 factories have already made fully compliant in line with their prescribed safety standard and rest of them are on the process to implementing international safety standard to improve workplace safety.
“Major portion of the factories which are yet to be made fully compliant, will complete the task by the end of this year. Rest of them is expected to do so within the year 2018,” he added.
Faruque Hassan said, alliance should be more careful while revealing the report and it should mention all these information in their report.
When asked, he said, findings of the report could raise a fresh confusion among the global community about the workplace safety in local garments sector. It can leave a negative impact on the sector.
Regarding delay in implementing safety standard, Faruque Hassan said it’s a huge task having enormous cost involvement. So, it will take time.
The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety and the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, two forums of American and European buyers, was formed after the collapse of Rana Plaza factory complex in 2013.
The incident killed more than 1,100 garment workers sparking international outrage against the global brands who placed orders in the building’s five apparel units.
They were formed for pushing through rigorous safety reforms in nearly half of Bangladesh’s 4,500 garment factories to improve conditions for millions workers.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday refuted the report of Alliance that hundreds of local apparel units are still lagging behind safety reforms in line with the suggestions of the buyer group.
“The report was not correct as there were some information gap there,” BGMEA Senior Vice-President Faruque Hassan, told The New Nation on Saturday.
Besides, it did not reflect the real picture about the ongoing safety initiatives taken by the garment entrepreneurs.
“Only 24 of around 700 garment factories inspected in Bangladesh meet international safety standards,” according to the report of Alliance.
The BGMEA leader further said that nothing wrong with the report if it said about 24 out of 700 factories have already made fully compliant in line with their prescribed safety standard and rest of them are on the process to implementing international safety standard to improve workplace safety.
“Major portion of the factories which are yet to be made fully compliant, will complete the task by the end of this year. Rest of them is expected to do so within the year 2018,” he added.
Faruque Hassan said, alliance should be more careful while revealing the report and it should mention all these information in their report.
When asked, he said, findings of the report could raise a fresh confusion among the global community about the workplace safety in local garments sector. It can leave a negative impact on the sector.
Regarding delay in implementing safety standard, Faruque Hassan said it’s a huge task having enormous cost involvement. So, it will take time.
The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety and the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, two forums of American and European buyers, was formed after the collapse of Rana Plaza factory complex in 2013.
The incident killed more than 1,100 garment workers sparking international outrage against the global brands who placed orders in the building’s five apparel units.
They were formed for pushing through rigorous safety reforms in nearly half of Bangladesh’s 4,500 garment factories to improve conditions for millions workers.
