Speakers at a meeting on Wednesday stressed on fire and safety compliance of the country’s readymade garment factories to facilitate retention of the Generalised System Preferences (GSP) to be reviewed in December by the US authorities.
They made the observation while exchanging views on compliance issues of RMG sector in Bangladesh jointly organised by Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association in Dhaka.
The RMG sector is passing through a crises moment especially after the Tazreen Fashions fire incident and Rana Plaza collapse, and suspension of GSP by the US government on June 27, said Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed.
“At any cost, we should not allow any destruction to the RMG sector as it contributes 20% to the GDP and earns 18% of foreign currency.”
The government has reviewed the progress of Bangladesh Action Plan imposed for the revival of the suspended GSP facility. The review witnessed remarkable progress in some areas, he said.
“We will send the progress report to the US government by November 14 (today) as the paper has been prepared having discussion with all parties.”
The action plan tagged a condition on forming trade union in the RMG factories, but the number of union in the factories are not encouraging yet, he noted.
As per the action plan, union could create harmonious environment in the factories, which would increase productivity, he said, quoting the action plan. There cannot be compromise in safety and compliance in the work places, Ahmed said.
GSP facility for Bangladesh in European Union is under stress following the incidents, said Gerben De Jong, ambassador of Netherlands to Bangladesh.
The month of November is very important for Bangladesh RMG sector as there are two important issues at present – setting a common standard of factory inspection and awarding minimum wage for the workers. He said there is a standard for the living wage.
“I think we can be optimistic at this point of time that in November we’ll see breakthrough. I’m very much optimistic about the joint standards following very much leading role of the government,” said the envoy.
The country’s RMG sector is passing through curtail time and the government has taken initiatives to meet the challenges including amendment of labour law, which includes rights to form participatory union through voting, setting up close circuit cameras in the factories to ensure safety, said Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar.
Not only the government, the factory owners also have to work together to make the RMG sector full-fledge compliance, he added. “If the owners come two steps forward, the government would go forward with five steps.”
Replying to a question, Shipar said the International Labour Organisation will train trade union leaders and garment workers though it is a controversial issue.
Factory owners sought government cooperation in setting inspection guideline, saying that if the government orders to make shared building compliance, it would make 40% workers jobless.
They also demanded a certain standard for factory inspection on fire and building safety to avert chaotic situation, and urged the government to stop harassment in the name of inspection by several organisation.
Commenting on the ongoing labour unrest, BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam urged the workers to calm down, saying that they would come up with a good offer.
He also demanded business exit policy arguing that small and medium entrepreneurs would not be able to run the factory with new wage structure.
Sarah Cooke, country representative, British High Commission, Tobais (Toby) Glucksman, deputy chief, political and economic section, Embassy of the United States, BKMEA President Selim Osman were present at the meeting, among others.