Catch-22 encountered in RMG safety implementation

The act of righting a wrong, on occasions, tends to create problem/s if the prevailing circumstances are hostile to a change for the better. This is found particularly true in the case of the ongoing efforts to remove structural and other safety flaws in a number of apparel units in the country. Correction of such flaws would necessitate suspension of work, leading to joblessness of many existing workers. Another issue raised by the apparel unit owners relates to the source of fund for carrying out the necessary repair work.

Last month, according to a report published in this paper late last week, an inspection team comprising representatives of the Accord, a platform of international buyers and the official review committee had declared three apparel units temporarily closed following detection of some structural flaws in the buildings where they were housed. The factories are still closed and several thousand workers of these factories are jobless. The owners, who had paid wages for three and a half months while declaring the work suspension, say they do not have the ability to pay workers' wages if their factories continue to remain closed. But the Accord wants the owners to pay wages to the workers as long as the factories remain temporarily shut.

It is most likely that structural and safety flaws would be detected in some more factories necessitating their work suspension. This has become a major concern for both workers and factory owners. A number of labour leaders and owners are worried over joblessness, temporary or otherwise, that might trigger unrest among workers.  If that happens, it would, as they fear, only aggravate the current spell of bad time for the apparel sector. It is in fact a catch-22 situation. After the twin tragedy of Tazreen fire and Rana Plaza collapse, workplace safety of the workers is an issue that cannot be bypassed using any excuse. The factories need to be made safe and secure at any cost. The safety issue cannot be compromised citing reasons such as joblessness and non-availability of fund.

It should be the joint responsibility of the apparel unit owners, the international buyers and the government to address the safety issue without causing any major disruption in the existing production process. If all the parties discuss the problems involving the work suspension in a number of apparel units with flawed safety situation, an acceptable solution is most likely to emerge. But a proactive attitude on the part of both factory owners and the international buyers would be necessary in this connection. The two platforms of international buyers now engaged in Bangladesh cannot just walk away keeping their works half-done. Nor can others retreat from the job of making the workplace of nearly 2.0 million poor workers safe.