The UK government will provide Bangladesh with a fund of £18 million
to train readymade garments workers.
Visiting UK minister Alan Duncan made the announcement at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed in Savar, where he had been to visit those injured at the Rana Plaza collapse on April 24.
The UK aid will be used for training low-skilled garment workers and construction workers to improve their productivity.
Britain will also provide a team of experts to
review the country’s building inspection system, he added.
Alan also called on British clothes retailers to ‘assume responsibility’ for the way their products are made.
He said the collapse had been a ‘wake-up’ call and safety standards in Bangladesh needed to be strengthened.
The UK minister said he had been incredibly moved by the courage of the people, many of whom had been trapped for days in the debris and sustained appalling injuries.
He said safety and standards must be made to catch up with the rapid growth in the garment sector which is a massive success story.
The industry had been built from nothing in the past 30 years and now needed to be turned into a long-term development success, which means that urgent action is needed across the sector, he added.
‘Our own high street brands must assume
responsibility for their products, from the store right back to the sewing machines and the UK is ready to
help make this happen,’
said Alan.
Asked whether UK supports the call for ban on import of RMG products from Bangladesh, he replied ‘100 per cent no.’
It will bring total disaster for the country, its development and the poorest people as well.
Those who are calling for ban on Bangladeshi garments are simply crazy and making irresponsible statements, he observed.
Alan also said he expected BGMEA to show a responsible leadership to improve the situation in the apparel industry.
During his visit Alan toured the Babylon factory, which produces clothes for Tesco and other UK buyers, and raised the issue of garment workers’ conditions at a meeting with prime minister Sheikh Hasina, adds BBC.
-With New Age input
