Krilla says at the launch of Alliance’s Dhaka office
The president of Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, a North American retailers’ platform, Jeffrey Krilla, on Monday said that they would complete the inspection of all the garment factories in Bangladesh which produce products for them by mid July 2014.
He said speaking at the opening ceremony of the Dhaka office of the Alliance.
Krilla said that the initiative was dedicated to implementing solution to the complex challenges surrounding workers and fire safety and had made tangible progress against its ambitious goals since its founding in July 2013.
‘More than 15 technical and professional staff of the Alliance are working in collaboration with external partners, coordinating the factory inspection and remediation process and providing safety training guidance and oversight,’ Krilla said at the ceremony held at a hotel in the capital.
The Alliance will inspect more than 600 factories in Bangladesh and take necessary remedial measures.
Canadian high commissioner Heather Cruden said all parties including the Alliance, Accord and National Tripartite Committee were playing a crucial role to tell a positive story of the garment sector in Bangladesh and her government was also committed to the sector.
‘Canadian retailers and brands will remain with Bangladesh and we want to work to regain the reputation of Bangladesh brand,’ she said.
Srinivas Reddy, country director of International Labour Organisation, said that commitment was important but time was the sensitive issue for the all parties who are working to ensure workers safety and rights in Bangladesh.
‘To avoid the re-occurrence of factory disaster all party should complete its work in promised time,’ he said.
After the Rana Plaza building collapse on April 24 which killed 1,129 people
mostly garment workers, 17 North American retailers, including Walmart and Gap, on July 10 formed the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety undertaking a five-year plan which sets aggressive timelines and accountability for inspections, training and worker empowerment.
The Alliance starts its Bangladesh office with 14 staff including a managing director.
-With New Age input
