Ready-Made-Garments manufacturers, global brands and retailers, global unions and their Bangladeshi affiliates have established this unprecedented national initiative to carry forward the significant accomplishments made on workplace safety in Bangladesh.

 

The RSC will continue with factory inspections, remediation monitoring, safety training and an independent safety & health complaints mechanism available to workers in RMG factories.

 

Today the functions of the Bangladesh offices of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh have transitioned to the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), a permanent national organisation with equal representation from RMG manufacturers, global apparel companies, and trade unions representing garment workers. 

 

The RSC will initially conduct its workplace safety programs at the 1600+ RMG factories covered under the Accord, but is envisaged to eventually cover all RMG exporting garment factories. The RSC aspires to also encompass industrial relations, skills development and environmental standards.

 

Since mid-2013, Bangladeshi RMG factories have made significant improvements in workplace safety. More than 1200 Accord covered factories have completed more than 90% of the remediation of their Corrective Actions Plans. Through the work of the RSC, covered factories will be able to complete their CAPs and ensure that all outstanding safety issues are remediated and verified as correctly fixed, and that the labour-management Safety Committees in the factories are equipped and empowered to monitor and address workplace safety on a daily basis. 

 

Rubana Huq, President of the BGMEA and industry representative on the RSC Board of Directors, said:

 

China Rahman, General Secretary of the IndustriALL Bangladesh Council. and trade unions representative on the RSC Board of Directors, said: 

“Together with our Bangladeshi trade union affiliates we will help ensure workers in RMG factories have safe workplaces and have access to remedy to address safety concerns and exercise the right to safe workplaces. We will work to ensure that workers to have trust in the newly established RSC.” 

 

Roger Hubert, H&M and brand representative on the RSC Board of Directors, said: 

 

The RMG industry is facing unprecedented times with the Covid-19 pandemic which has had a dramatic impact on the RMG industry in Bangladesh and all entities and people associated with the industry.  As the RSC embarks on its work, one of the first issues it will need to address is the safe resumption of the office and field based work of its mandate. The RSC further urges all re-opened RMG factories to implement necessary measures to mitigate Covid-19 exposure and keep the factory workers as safe as possible.

 

The RSC is confident and hopeful that its unique structure and commitment to collaboration will further advance a safe, healthy, and sustainable RMG industry in Bangladesh which can serve as a model for the world.