Ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries at a programme yesterday praised the Bangladesh government for its efforts to reform the readymade garment sector and stressed the need for implementation of the pledges which still remain unfulfilled.
The Labour and Employment Ministry and the International Labour Organisation jointly arranged the programme titled “One year after Rana Plaza: Progress and the Way Forward” at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital marking one year of the Rana Plaza collapse.
Ambassador of Netherlands Gerben Sjoerd de Jong said: “Many challenges still remain to be tackled. More labour inspectors need to be recruited; the public database needs more details on status of factory and labour inspections; harassment of labour activists needs to be addressed; new minimum wage needs full implementation; and remedial safety measures in the inspected factories must be undertaken. And besides all that, the issue of compensation to the victims has to be addressed with utmost priority.”
He added: “The rapid and unfettered growth of the readymade garment industry has led to a lack of compliance with both social and labour standards in too many of the factories. Consequently, this has resulted in unsafe working conditions, sexual harassment in the workplaces, poor wages and intimidation and violence against labour activities.”
Canadian High Commissioner Heather Cruden said: “Many of the commitments of the tripartite plan have partially been implemented. For example, only a small number of the promised 200 additional labour inspectors have been hired so far. The database does not yet contain information on the inspections of factories. There continue to be cases of harassment and persecution of labour union leaders. Workers are at the heart of the industry and must have a more active role through workers’ committees.”
US Ambassador Dan W Mozena said: “I believe Bangladesh is making impressive progress toward that end, toward ensuring that the workers of Bangladesh will never again find their lives forfeited at the altar of callous greed as workers’ lives are put at risk for undue profit.”
He also said that all of the powerful forces that came together to transform the country’s RMG sector will create a new way to do business in the sector to create a regimen that closes the door forever to another Rana Plaza disaster.
EU Ambassador William Hanna said: “Bangladesh’s ability to ensure safety and health at work, and freedom of association must continue to improve. Bangladeshi authorities need to make sure that new legislation is effectively implemented in practice, and that Bangladeshi industry keeps to its commitments in this respect.”
Speakers at the programme stressed the need for dealing with the issues of freedom of association and collective bargaining agent in garment sector.
Roy Ramesh Chandra, secretary general of IndustriAll Bangladesh, said: “Rana Plaza was the result of combined failure of all stakeholders. US guidelines made it mandatory for brands to protect the safety of the garments from where they are sourcing, but they didn’t follow it. Brands should pay compensation which is the rights of workers. Consumers have to play their role by contributing to the donor fund for compensation.”
He suggested creating welfare trust fund for RMG workers where brands, employers and government would contribute for retired garment workers.
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said: “Implementation of legal changes and policies and coordination of all stakeholders is a must.”