Foreign diplomats expressed their satisfaction over the initiatives, taken by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), to improve the country’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector compliance issues.
“We are satisfied over the post Rana Plaza initiatives for improving work places environment, workers safety, labour standard and labour rights,” said ILO country director Srinivas Reddy while addressing a press briefing on Thursday. Earlier, the foreign diplomats held a view exchange meeting on “Information sharing session on Post Rana Plaza Initiatives and the Current Scenario of the RGM Sector” at Westin Hotel in Dhaka.
Envoys of 14 countries including US, Germany, Spain and Sweden, which buy Bangladesh apparel products, attended the meeting with major stakeholders including leaders of the apparel trade body BGMEA.
Apparently expressing their satisfaction over the measures, Reddy said a lot of improvement took place especially in case of trade unions. “There were only two registered trade unions in the RMG sector in 2010. But the number by this time has increased to 134, he added. Dwelling on the compensation for the victims of Rana Plaza, he hoped that a significant amount will be deposited in the ‘Rana Plaza Donor’s Trust Fund by April 23.
A total of 3639 workers who worked at the garment units housed at Rana Plaza will be given Tk 50,000 each as compensation from the trust fund by April 23, he said.
The ILO, IndustriALL, UNI Global Union and the Clean Clothes Campaign formed a US$ 40 million worth ‘Rana Plaza Donor’s Trust Fund’ to compensate the victims of the deadly factory disaster at Rana Plaza. They have so far collected a fund of $ 8 million while British retailer Primark would give $ 1 million to the fund. “If no more amounts are deposited in this fund, we will distribute the collected fund among 3639 victims of the Rana Plaza,” he added.
In addition, Primark has already provided $ 2 million compensation to its 581 workers or their families and more $ 9 million compensation will be given to its factory workers, he said.
Regarding factory inspection, he said, “We, including ILO, Accord, Alliance, IndustryAll, BGMEA and the Bangladesh Government, are working closely to ensure factory compliance, workers safety and labour rights in the RMG sector.”
Canadian High Commi-ssioner to Bangladesh Heather Cruden said the Canadian buyers purchase around $ 1.10 billion worth RMG products from Bangladesh per annum.
Terming formation of workers database and ensuring workers safety in RMG factories as major challenges of the country’s apparel industry, she claimed that Canada is providing necessary supports to improve the working place of RMG factories and workers safety and labour rights.
Many challenges have been created in the country’s RMG sector after the Rana Plaza tragedy, BGMEA President Atiqul Islam said.
“Now, it is the right time to face the challenges through working together with the ILO, government and foreign retailers and brands,” he said.
“During the meeting, we discussed with foreign envoys on how to improve the factory compliance, ensure workers safety and safe working place for the RMG workers, and turn the country’s RMG industry into an international standard,” the BGMEA president added.