The Better Work Program launched by the International Labour Organisation and the International Finance Corporation has the right idea about improving competitiveness in the RMG industry. However, there are caveats that need to be addressed.
The program has already succeeded in registering 98 garment factories under its fold. If all goes as planned, 95% of RMG owners are set to join the program.
Ever since the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, which claimed the lives of 1,129 people and injured thousands more, the Bangladeshi garments industry has been under scrutiny to improve conditions for its workers.
Such a tragedy cannot be allowed to happen again. It is, of course, a step forward to ensure social compliance and greater worker rights.
The standards outlined by the program can help with all these things, thereby improve the industry’s image to the world, and make sure that our labour force is safe and satisfied at their respective places of work.
While the Better Work Program aims to uphold workers’ rights and improve standards everywhere, it does not benefit the RMG industry to be constantly pressured by international bodies regarding terms and conditions.
While it is fine for the ILO and IFC to set out compliance standards which factories should aim for, it must be up to the Bangladeshi factory owners to meet the standards on their own, without policing and interference from outside the country.
It is the pressure from buyers as well as from inside Bangladesh that will ensure that the RMG industry meets the required standards.
Subjecting the industry to additional intrusive outside pressure from supra-national bodies would be neither appropriate nor productive.
It is in the interest of Bangladesh to improve the image of our RMG sector, and we are well on our way to making all the necessary changes.
