Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Bangladesh’s apparel industry has undergone through a massive transformation in terms of workplace safety and workers’ rights in the last four years setting a unique example in the world.
A tangible collaborating among the government, buyers, international agencies, workers, industry owners and donors has indeed brought the much needed change which was necessary to regain the industry’s image tarnished severely in the aftermath of Rana Plaza collapse, insiders said.
They said the reform has been possible due to three initiatives launched by the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety (Accord), the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (Alliance) and the National Action Plan (NAP).
Local and foreign experts recruited by the three platforms-Accord, Alliance and NAP-completed inspection of more than 3,800 ready-made garment (RMG) factories for fixing safety issues in all the factories following international standards.
Of them, 39 factories were closed due to safety concern, according to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
“We’re vigorously working to ensure workplace safety and establish workers’ rights in the industry. A lot of work have already been done. Factory remediation process taken by the Accord and Alliance is nearing completion,” BGMEA President M Siddiqur Rahman told The New Nation yesterday.
He said over 80 per cent of the factories affiliated with the Accord and Alliance have already fixed their identified safety issues. Remediation work is also going on rest of the factories expected to be completed by 2018.
“Local RMG industry has already set a bright example in the global arena by transforming itself safe, worker friendly and competitive under the three initiatives launched by Accord, Alliance and the National Action Plan (NAP),” added Siddiqur Rahman.
He also said, Bangladeshi is no longer a risky apparel manufacturing country if we consider all the recent developments in the industry.
Regarding rights issues, the BGMEA leader said, the government has amended the labour law making it favourable to protect workers’ rights and ensuring their welfare. Under the amended law, workers are free to form trade unions without informing the factory management.
Referring to an official data, Siddiqur Rahman said the number of RMG sector trade unions was 138 in 2012 and it increased to 603 as of July 2017. “It indicates that we’re not interfering formation of trade unions and workers are enjoying full freedom in forming trade unions at their factories,” he claimed.
Bangladesh is the world’s second largest apparel exporter behind China and the country fetched US$ 28.15 billion from exports of garment items in the fiscal year 2016-17.
