Speakers at a dialogue on Monday stressed developing a comprehensive roadmap for energy transition that will outline the specific targets, timelines, and actions required at various levels to ensure a successful transition in the readymade garment (RMG) sector.
They said the roadmap should include policy recommendations, regulatory frameworks, and monitoring mechanisms.
The government should provide market-driven incentives - tax breaks and subsidies - for factories that invest in sustainable production processes, while fiscal support for polluters should be withdrawn, they also said.
Their other recommendations include ensuring green transition benefits for workers, mostly women who they described as the group most vulnerable to climate change and global warming.
The suggestions came at a programme titled "Just Energy Transition in RMG Industry: A Way to Sustainable Industry and Employment" and organised by Karmojibi Nari in the capital.
Labour Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman was present as the chief guest at the event moderated by Karmojibi Nari Additional Executive Director Sanjida Sultana.
Speaking at the programme, the labour secretary said they cannot go for renewable energy at the required level in absence of measures to minimise costs, adding there is no lack of policies.
He stressed synchronisation among all existing policies with the inclusion of all required stakeholders in the process that would reflect the demands of workers.
Karmojibi Nari Consultant Md Taherul Islam made a number of recommendations while giving a presentation on the topic.
He called for ensuring social protection for RMG workers in pursuit of a just transition, protecting people from the adverse impacts of climate change and energy transition.
Besides, he suggested measures to help workers experiencing temporary unemployment or reduced income during the transition and also advocated for temporary income support for displaced workers, along with subsidies for retraining programmes.
His other recommendations include facilitating access to national and international green finance, such as Bangladesh Climate Change Trust fund, and establishing a green skills development fund.
Addressing the event, Razekuzzaman Ratan, president of Somajtantric Sramik Front, said the transition is taking place and women are the most vulnerable group affected by it.
There are more than 250 green garment factories in the country, he said, questioning their impacts on workers. He asked whether the wages of the workers working at these factories have increased or whether they have job security.
"Energy transition is taking place, but what are the workers getting from it? How are the green initiatives just?" he asked.
Workers are meeting their renewable expenditures at a time of high cost of living by working overtime, he said. He also said to ensure a just transition, the needs of workers, including health, nutrition, and living standards, must be met.
Speakers alleged that factory owners are taking environment-friendly measures to get benefits or incentives that are not used for the welfare of workers.
They said there are a number of policies and frameworks in this regard, but workers' voices are missing in those as they are not part of the process, including the labour ministry.
A garment factory representative said small factories, despite having willingness, could not install solar panels due to space shortages and also demanded the government's initiative in this regard.
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, chairman of the Labour Reform Commission, proposed forming a platform led by the labour ministry to develop a roadmap that would identify who are affected, who are the beneficiaries, and how to reduce losses caused by the transition.
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