Economic Reporter :
International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder says Bangladesh has made remarkable progress to improve working conditions and safety in the readymade garments (RMG) sector.
“After the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, a great deal of work has been done thanks to Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety and national initiatives to assess the structural integrity of buildings and ensure their safety,” said Ryder.
The ILO chief lavished praise at a press briefing scheduled to conclude his four-day visit to Bangladesh in a city hotel on Tuesday. He was accompanied by State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque and ILO Country Director Srinivas B Reddy.
“There has been progress but the job is not finished. It is important that we do not lose the momentum but continue improving to finish the task.
“I have visited two RMG factories, which are fully remediated. Another is 80% done with its remediation, which reflects the overall situation,” he added.
Ryder reflected on the economic development: “Your country’s achievements are praiseworthy. But as the nation moves towards middle income status, it should seek to ensure that its economic dynamism is matched by social progress. A fair sharing of the benefits of growth across the population of Bangladesh is important to the sustainability of the process,” he added.
State Minister Mujibul said: “Since the factory disaster, the number of trade unions in the RMG sector has increased significantly. Currently, there are 532 trade unions in the RMG sector.
“Workers will be unionised when they apply in accordance with all the labour laws, but anyone found rejecting union applications will be subjected to disciplinary action,” Mujibul said.
International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder says Bangladesh has made remarkable progress to improve working conditions and safety in the readymade garments (RMG) sector.
“After the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, a great deal of work has been done thanks to Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety and national initiatives to assess the structural integrity of buildings and ensure their safety,” said Ryder.
The ILO chief lavished praise at a press briefing scheduled to conclude his four-day visit to Bangladesh in a city hotel on Tuesday. He was accompanied by State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque and ILO Country Director Srinivas B Reddy.
“There has been progress but the job is not finished. It is important that we do not lose the momentum but continue improving to finish the task.
“I have visited two RMG factories, which are fully remediated. Another is 80% done with its remediation, which reflects the overall situation,” he added.
Ryder reflected on the economic development: “Your country’s achievements are praiseworthy. But as the nation moves towards middle income status, it should seek to ensure that its economic dynamism is matched by social progress. A fair sharing of the benefits of growth across the population of Bangladesh is important to the sustainability of the process,” he added.
State Minister Mujibul said: “Since the factory disaster, the number of trade unions in the RMG sector has increased significantly. Currently, there are 532 trade unions in the RMG sector.
“Workers will be unionised when they apply in accordance with all the labour laws, but anyone found rejecting union applications will be subjected to disciplinary action,” Mujibul said.
