Germany wants improved RMG safety standards

FE Report | Published: April 30, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Germany wants further amendment to the existing labour laws for ensuring improved working safety and social standards in the readymade garment (RMG) sector of Bangladesh.
Voicing concern over the January 5 election, as it deprived millions of voters of casting their ballots, the European country also expressed doubts over the completion of full term of five years of the present parliament unless meaningful dialogue between the major political forces takes place very soon.
"With the help of the Accord and ILO, also with the support of the Alliance, some progress has been made no doubt and all stakeholders deserve praise for this. But it is only the beginning of a long way, which Germany is ready to go with Bangladesh," Mrs Dagmar G Wohrl, MP, head of a seven-member German parliamentary delegation told the newsmen Tuesday at a press conference at GIZ conference hall in the city.
"In particular, further steps need to be taken to amend once more the existing labour laws. All objectives must be centered on the need to further improve safety and social standards in order to ensure decent working conditions for those who are producing garments we are wearing in Germany, and to avoid industrial tragedies in the future," she added.
German ambassador in Bangladesh Albrecht Conze and Mr Stefan Rebmann, MP were also present at the press briefing.
The German Parliamentary Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development arrived in Dhaka on April 26 last, one year after the Rana Plaza tragedy, to see what has been done in the meantime and what remains to be done in the future.
"It is now time for better factories, higher health and safety standards, and for full compliance with ILO conventions," said Ms Wohrl.
The delegation chief said Germany is the second largest market of ready-made garments produced in Bangladesh where 17 per cent of its total products are exported.
Ms Wohrl said there is joint obligation for buyers, traders and producers and governments of both the countries, trade unions and civil society to make sure that production and working conditions are up to international standards.
Ms Wohrl said the bilateral trade amounts to 5.0 billion Euro and every year they are making available 100 million for Bangladesh. The amount of bilateral aid is 2.5 billion Euro.
The outcome of this visit will help in their budget negotiation process after going back to Germany, she added.
Regarding possibility of investment by the German investors, Ms Wohrl said Bangladesh needs to improve the safety and security to attract foreign investment along with reliable energy supply.
The delegation called on prime minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday reiterating its support to Bangladesh irrespective of the ups and downs of politics, as long as the core values are respected on which the foreign policy is based.
While answering to a question, Ms Wohrl said they expressed their concern over the present parliament elected unilaterally to the prime minister and they thought the PM understood their position.
The delegation also expressed their dissatisfaction over scrapping of the caretaker system while terming it an internal matter of Bangladesh. But they emphasised on resuming talks with the former opposition party as a strong opposition party helps continue the democratic process. It is upto Bangladesh to decide whether mid-term election should be held.
Regarding the loopholes in the present labour laws, delegation member Mr Rebmann said Bangladesh will be assessed critically in Germany after their visit. Also Germany wants high standards and more production so that German customers buy Bangladeshi garment products at higher prices. There was a negative connotation about Bangladesh to the German buyers which has dispelled slowly, he added.
"The present visit will help us know about the current working and safety condition of the labourers, their rights situation and progress in forming trade unions in garment factories," he said.