The factory and building owners of Rana Plaza must be tried quickly according to law as such incident has put Bangladesh apparel industry in a very dire situation, said the International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh on Wednesday.
It said that Savar incident that killed more than 1,100 garments workers in April following the Tazreen Fashions fire which killed another 112 workers in November was widely covered worldwide because of Bangladesh’s position as the number two apparel exporter in the world.
The chamber said buyers were now pressing for safe workplaces, higher wages, rights to trade union and other conditions for compliance.
‘Following the accident, many international NGOs as well as consumers campaigned for restricting purchase of Bangladeshi garments until the factories ensure workers’ safety and labour rights.’ it said in a news release.
The ICCB also said because of the pressing demand, the situation has been improving everyday but it needed comprehensive attention on the part of the owners, regulators as well as buyers in order to achieve the desired results.
It said the apparel manufacturers and experts were trying to come up with reform roadmap dealing with factory classification, health and safety standards, compliance monitoring, responsibilities of trade associations, new RMG Economic Zones, relocation of unsafe factories, financing the RMG reforms and minimum wage increase.
The strength of the country’s apparel sector is well understood through its ability to supply high-end items to famous global brands, said the ICCB.
‘Currently, more than 30 per cent of total RMG export is of high-end products. The sector generates $21.5 billion in exports, employing more than 4 million workers dispersed among 5,400 factories, most of whom are rural poor women.’
The chamber said the Bangladeshi manufacturers were hoping that instead of deserting the Western buyers should provide resources and financial support and work together to make Bangladesh factories more compliant.
‘Bangladesh is one of the few places in the world that has enough workers, manufacturing capacity and experience to provide what retailers demand: high volume, low prices and good quality etc.’
The ICCB suggested that four main stakeholders — the government, suppliers, buyers and workers — must work together to develop a long-term implementable strategy to realise the potentials of Bangladesh’s readymade garments market.
The chamber also suggested that the idea of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to use a tag to raise little extra for ensuring workers’ health, dormitory, pension, provident fund, children’s care facilities deserved serious attention of the buyers.
-With New Age input
