Visiting Deputy Director General (DDG) for Field Operations and Partnerships, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo said here on Friday that they are expecting a way forward after Savar tragedy and a roadmap will be there by Saturday to address safety issues. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward in a very positive way. We\u2019ve to consider this tragedy as a new beginning. You have to use it as a (positive) catalyst,\u201d he told a meeting at the conference hall of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).
\nHe said they would continue to discuss with the authorities concerned and workers\u2019 bodies and owners today. \u201cI\u2019m very confident by tomorrow (Saturday) we\u2019ll have a final way forward in terms of roadmap with all the commitments laid down.\u201d
\nBangladesh Employers Federation (BEF) arranged the meeting with BEF President M Fazlul Hoque in the chair.
\nPresident of Bangladesh Garment manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) M Atiqul Islam, second vice president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) AH Aslam Sunny, BEF and MCCI Secretary General Farooq Ahmed and business leaders were also present.
\nThe ILO DDG, who arrived here on Wednesday, also said there are three dimensions that the ILO and authorities concerned need to look into.
\n\u201c(The) fist dimension is workers rights, secondly overall safety issues and finally working conditions, managing crisis to make sure the new law takes serious look into workers\u2019 rights,\u201d Houngbo explained adding that he is impressed with the positive trend that Bangladesh has achieved MDGs where exports have also played a role.
\nHe said all need to sort out the problems, recognise the problems and address those through joint efforts. \u201cWe want to solve the problems.\u00a0 Let\u2019s don\u2019t kill the economy\u2026we need to look at a balanced approach.\u201d
\nBGMEA President Atiqul Islam said they want to work together to avoid repetition of such incident in the country.
\nHe said the BGMEA authorities will have a report on the structural design of each factory by the end of this month. \u201cThen, we\u2019ll shut down the risky factories. We have that authority.\u201d
\nBesides, Atiqul Islam said, they will also inspect factories with their own engineers. He said they need a concrete action plan – National Tripartite Action Plan – with support from the ILO.
\nThe BGMEA President also sought ILO support for rehabilitating the workers with disabilities due to the Savar accident.
\nThe high-profile ILO delegation arrived here on Wednesday on a four-day visit with a plan to help Bangladesh improve the working conditions in the country\u2019s mills and factories.
\nThe other members of the delegation are Andre Bogui, a senior staff at the Director- General\u2019s Office, Coen Kompier, a specialist on Labour Standards, and Amin Al-Wreidat, a specialist on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).
\nThe delegation will hold a press conference at a city hotel on Saturday afternoon on the outcome of the visit.
\nFactory owners and government officials will also join the press conference.
\nThe ILO delegation will leave Dhaka after the press conference.<\/p>\n

-With The Independent<\/span> input<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Visiting Deputy Director General (DDG) for Field Operations and Partnerships, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo said here on Friday that they are expecting a way forward after Savar tragedy and a roadmap will be there by Saturday to address safety issues. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward in a very positive way. We\u2019ve to consider this … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[2253,10518,10535,10286,10534],"yoast_head":"\n