Dhaka is set to host a tripartite meeting on September 7 that is expected to decide on certain standards for the country’s readymade garment sector.
Labour ministry officials said the three parties would be the Bangladesh government, international buyers and labour organisations, and the factory owners.
The agenda of the meeting is likely to include the finalisation of factory inspection plans, fixing of minimum standards for garments factories and investment plans for improving standards.
The meeting, likely to be chaired by labour minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Ruju, is also expected to finalise the list of factories that foreign buyer groups are interested to assess. The buyer groups will put forward their detailed plans at the meeting.
“Foreign buyer groups have responded positively about attending the meeting. We hope they will place their proposals in detail. We will then make our decisions,” Mikail Shipar, labour and employment secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Ministry officials said the buyer groups European-based Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, and North American-based Bangladesh Safety Alliance had shown interest in getting involved in improving the standards of Bangladeshi garment factories.
The proposals came following two back-to-back industrial disasters the Rana Plaza collapse and the Tazreen factory fire.
According to the proposals, the foreign buyer groups will inspect 1,750 of the country’s 4,000 garment factories. The labour ministry will assess the remaining factories in association with the International Labour Organisation.
Mikail Shipar said the government would begin assessments after the foreign buyers finalised the list of factories to inspect.
“The government will begin inspections on September 15. But the reality is that it will not be possible for us to assess all the vulnerable factories by December in order to regain the generalised system of preferences (GSP),” he added.
“We will try to fix a standard in the Bangladeshi context because it is not possible for us to ensure EU or US standards in Bangladesh right now. After the inspections are complete, we will take further steps for improvement,” Shipar said.
