The readymade garment (RMG) industry of Bangladesh often makes headlines in the national media and sometimes in the international media for different reasons. Most of the time, the news concerning the industry is not encouraging. After the unfortunate Rana Plaza collapse, all eyes were fixed on the apparel industry of Bangladesh, and a flurry of reports were published both home and abroad, instilling fear into the entrepreneurs that global buyers and retailers were all set to leave Bangladesh. But what we saw later was the complete opposite – the global buyers and retailers formed platforms, namely Accord and Alliance, to make the RMG industry safer for millions of workers.
The entrepreneurs and workers breathed a sigh of relief while many raised eyebrows. Questions arise as to what had led the buyers to make such a decision when they came under severe criticism after the Rana Plaza collapse. Our quest is not to look for the answer to this question, rather if we can imagine what would have happened had the buyers left Bangladesh. Have we ever thought of how these workers would lead their lives after losing their livelihood? Does the country have the capacity to ensure jobs for the large number of workers in any other sector?
It is really heartening and encouraging seeing that the buyers have not left us; rather, they have come forward to ensure a safer and sustainable RMG industry in Bangladesh. They started inspecting the garment factories for structural, electrical, and fire safety and have already covered most of the factories. Their inspection found that less than 2% of the inspected factories were risky, which need to be relocated. However, there is no denying that safety concerns do still exist in a number of factories. But it is a great piece of news that now all the stakeholders – the government, factory owners, buyers, and development partners in the sector are determined to ensure a safer industry and are working together to make it true.
We have now regained our good image, which had been tarnished both locally and internationally. The clouds of apprehension about Bangladesh’s RMG industry have cleared away with the inspection reports of Accord and Alliance. It is true that buyers and retailers never lost their confidence in us, and are still with us. But can anyone guarantee that the global buyers and retailers will not leave us if they continue to receive fearsome reports on the industry?
There is a well-known adage – to make a mountain out of a molehill. Well, this is what happens when any information is haphazardly disseminated and interpreted. In the era of globalisation, in which information-sharing is just a click away, life is easier for many. So, when the dissemination of news needs only a click of the mouse, misuse of information and misinterpretation are also that simple. It is unfortunate but true, that exaggerated and spicy news arouses more interest than the plain, true ones. Is it not wise to be more careful in spreading information about something since misinformation can seriously taint its image?
Image is crucial when it comes to international trade, and our garment industry knows that well. After the Rana Plaza disaster, our RMG sector came under intense pressure from both national and international communities. Some media reports created a negative impression of our RMG industry. But there is no scope for denying that Rana Plaza was the most tragic incident in our apparel industry. However, after the tragic event, our garment industry was portrayed in such a way that people at home and abroad started thinking that almost all garment factories in Bangladesh were vulnerable and unsafe for workers. But data from Accord and Alliance tell a different story.
For many, the garment industry means only Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashion. How many of us know that we have a number of state-of-the-art garment factories in Bangladesh? How many of us know that a Bangladeshi garment factory achieved the prestigious LEED Platinum certificate from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for modern, green practices? How many of us know that physically challenged people are employed in some of our garment factories? Or, how some garment factories provide free medical services and medicine to their workers?
It is sad but very true that most of us do not know this. Why? Because we have had a one-sided portrayal of our garment industry, which acts as the backbone of our economy and as a source of our export earnings and employment generation. So, given the dominance of the RMG industry in the overall economy of Bangladesh, we have to protect this sector.
We cannot afford to let down the industry that has kept moving the wheels of our economy, brought glory to the country through its “Made in Bangladesh” tags, created employment for millions of people, liberated them from the curse of chronic poverty, and empowered millions of women.
To save our RMG industry, it is imperative that we brighten our image globally since it is image that matters when it comes to international business. However, boosting image globally does not mean presenting our industry in an exaggerated manner; rather, we have to portray our industry as it is – both the negatives and the positives. Reporting the negative side is also important since it paves the way for improvement. Initiatives like Accord, Alliance, and NAP for improving working conditions and safety in our garment factories are the shining examples of the fact.