FE Report
Two transitional bodies will look into the ongoing safety drives in the country's readymade garment sector after the phase-out of Accord and Alliance, said the head of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Saturday.
Transitional Accord and Safety Monitoring Organisation are the agencies to be responsible for the purpose after the expiry of western retailers' platforms in May next.
"There will be a 'transitional accord' in Bangladesh from June 01 for six months comprising brands, the BGMEA and global rights groups to look into the ongoing safety activities," Siddiqur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said.
Alliance has also initiated a process to form a Safety Monitoring Organisation to oversee its listed garment factories where remediation and other safety activities are going on, he said. The monitoring body will work until the government-formed remediation coordination cell (RCC) is capable enough to take over the responsibility.
The BGMEA president announced this while speaking at a press conference held at its headquarters in the city on the eve of fifth anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse that killed more than 1100 people, mostly garment workers.
After the deadly industrial accident, two platforms led by foreign brands were formed.
Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a coalition of more than 222 apparel brands, retailers and trade unions mostly based in the European Union, and Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, the platform of 22 North American apparel companies, were responsible for improving workplace safety in the country's readymade garment sector.
A total of 3,500 garment factories have been inspected under three platforms -- Accord, Alliance and National Initiative.
Some 88 per cent identified safety flaws in Accord listed factories and 90 per cent of Alliance listed factories have been remediated, he said.
He admitted that it is essential for overseeing the progress whether they are on track or not for the sustainability of the industry.
Explaining the safety initiatives taken during the last five years, the BGMEA president said that Bangladesh's apparel sector has become a role model for workplace safety, thanks to the ongoing safety initiatives taken after the Rana Plaza tragedy.
"Rana Plaza was a wake up call for all of us and also a turning point for the industry," he said.
Seven out of 10 USGBC (United States Green Building Council) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified garment factories are located in Bangladesh and 67 factories have so far received such certifications while 280 are in pipeline.
The BGMEA president, however, alleged that "Despite all our efforts and activities, some vested quarters and organisations criticise and underrate our work."
Criticising a recent study conducted on 200 Rana Plaza survivors over telephone, he alleged that such findings do not bring the real picture of the whole industry.
He said that industrial accidents also happen in the US and China.
He said while no accident is acceptable, such criticism is heard only ahead of the Rana Plaza anniversary.
Responding to a question, he said it is the government to decide whether transitional Accord would continue after six months if the cell is not capable enough to take over the responsibility.
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