The speakers at a seminar on Saturday stressed that some substandard RMG factories in Bangladesh are still risky for the workers.They observed that better human resource management and communication between employees and managers could benefit owners, managers and workers alike. “I have visited and seen a number of garments factories and found some factories are truly first class others are clearly substandard and pose real threats to the people working in those premises,” said Sarah Cooke, Bangladesh country representatives of DFID (department for international aid), UK.
She pointed out that the RMG sector has brought about a radical social change in Bangladesh by providing large number of rural women with their own income. “Jobs in garment sector have also provided an alternative to early marriage and potential access to healthcare and education.”
“Our approach to promoting economic development includes encouraging more investment from overseas and working directly with businesses,” she explains. She called upon all to combine efforts to make factory conditions safe with reasonable working hours and fare reward for their work.
The UK Aid funded RAGS Challenges Fund organised the seminar at a city hotel. Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman and Vice-president of BGMEA Reaz Bin Mahmood also spoke on the occasion.
RAGS has been working in Bangladesh in partnership with major UK buyers such as Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Mothercare and NGOs. It has found practical ways to improve working conditions and safety in the garment sector. Atiur Rahman said Bangladesh bank plans
to do more for improving
the capacity of fire service department and other for
faster and stronger response to any disaster related to garments sector.
Investing in skill development of workers will enhance labour productivity and increase market share brining higher profits.
He underscored the need for building a stronger and yet sustainable garment sector in Bangladesh which would
help all of us in achieving people and planet friendly sustainable development in the years to come.
He also described various projects taken by the central bank to improve the working condition of the garments sector. BB has instructed all scheduled banks to open bank accounts for RMG workers with minimum initial deposit of 100 and no service charge for
facilitating banking services
at affordable cost, he told
the seminar.
-With The Independent input
