Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni has expressed hope that within a year or so, Bangladesh’s trading partners would see a positive change in the garment industries when the factories would be compliant with the required standard. During a meeting with Congressman Joseph Crawley, co-chair of Bangladesh Caucus in the US Congress, in Washington on Tuesday, she informed that a baseline survey was underway to find factories housed in faulty buildings and to take punitive measures against the violators of building and fire safety codes, said a Foreign Ministry press release on Thursday.
“Bangladesh government is fully committed to improve factory condition and has engaged all stakeholders of the garment sector to make a safer work environment for all workers”, Dipu Moni told the Congressman while apprising him of the government’s immediate response to the tragic accidents in Savar and Tazreen.
She noted that Cabinet had approved the amendments to the 2006 labour law which is expected to be passed in the upcoming session of Parliament.
An ethical pricing and responsible role of the buyers are extremely critical for advancing factory safety and labour welfare, Dipu Moni said.
Congressman Crawley thanked the minister for update on Bangladesh Government’s initiatives and work programmes for betterment of the factory conditions enabling the garment sector to meet future business challenges.
The Congressman enquired about the status of cases filed against certain labour leaders and Dipu Moni briefed him on the issue.
Crawley assured the minister of sharing the information with his other colleagues in the US Congress.
-With The Independent input
