Speakers at a seminar on Monday stressed the need for more dialogue between workers and employers to achieve the goal of US$50 billion export by the year 2021.
Besides relations development, the speakers also emphasised the need for workers' safety, better work environment, better wages, implementation of existing local and international rules and regulations to reach the targeted goal.
They were speaking at the fourth session of the Dhaka Apparel Summit titled 'Future of Workers: Workplace Safety and Sustainable Production' at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), for the first time, hosted the three-day apparel summit with twin objectives -- to attain $50 billion garment exports by 2021 and to repair the sector's image that was dented by industrial disasters.
The summit has brought together retailers, trade body leaders, policymakers and scholars, especially from the US and the EU, the two main export destinations of Bangladeshi garments.
Moderated by BGMEA Vice President (Finance) Reaz Bin Mahmood, the session was addressed by US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena, Chargé d' Affaires of the Embassy of Germany to Bangladesh Dr Ferdinand von Weyhe, former president of the BGMEA Anisur Rahman Sinha, Head of Programmes of Joint ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) Debbie Coulter, Chief Safety Inspector of Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh Brad Loewen, Programme Manager of Ready-Made Garment Sector of the ILO Dhaka Office Tuomo Poutiainen, Senior Partner of ELEVATE Ian Spaulding, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brig Gen Ali Ahmed Khan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Green Delta Insurance Company Limited Farzana Chowdhury, President, Bangladesh Textile and Garment Workers League (BTGWL) and Coordinator, Textile Group, IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) Z M Kamrul Anam.
The session shed light on progresses made since the inspection initiatives of NTAP, Accord and Alliance. The discussion also covered workers' rights issues, policy and capacity of the government and private stakeholders, donors' support, engagement of diplomatic community and brands.
US Ambassador Dan W Mozena said Bangladesh's readymade garments will be leading the world once the existing problems are solved.
"After seeing transformation in the RMG sector, I remain convinced that Brand Bangladesh will be a premier one and number one brand in the world," he said.
He said Rana Plaza collapse is a single incident which has changed the face of entire RMG industry of Bangladesh. Nobody could have imagined the changes what the single Rana Plaza incident has made.
"The Rana Plaza tragedy has offered an opportunity to transform the RMG industry to international level," he said.
The US envoy sought more dialogues and recognition of trade unions for healthy work environment in the factory premises.
Former BGMEA president Anisur Rahman Sinha said workers' safety is the basic prerequisite of any industrial production, but, unfortunately the industry remained indifferent to this serious matter before the Rana Plaza collapse.
"However, the Rana Plaza incident has opened our eyes," he said.
He said the garment exporters of the country encountered many challenges successfully before like child labour issues, GSP withdrawal by the US, etc. We will overcome the challenges," he said.
Dr Ferdinand von Weyhe, Charge d' Affaires, the Embassy of Germany in Bangladesh, said consumers always ask us to support compliance of the RMG industry and help and build the capacity to make the products more sustainable in terms of environmental issues which are also a great concern for the German government.
He also hinted at increased export of RMG to Germany in the days coming.
Ian Spaulding, Senior Partner of ELEVATE, said remediation of factories is a complex part and it will take years to complete it. He said besides inspection, remediation and training, it is necessary to change the mindset of factory owners about safety.
"Now our focus is on training. We also focus on building capacity of workers' representatives, supervisors and managers so that they can continue training themselves and others," he said.
Chief Safety Inspector of Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh Brad Loewen said, "The more we bring in and transfer knowledge to Bangladesh, the more it will help the industry."
He said it is necessary to build the capacity of government agencies which are the key parts of the policy and design world.
Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence Brig Gen Ali Ahmed Khan said lack of fire stations in industrial areas and narrow roads are some of the challenges the fire department is facing.
"It is necessary to have a fire service station in an area from where fire fighters can reach the spot within 10 minutes," he said adding that 5/6 fire stations will be established in the industrial areas very soon.
Programme Manager of Ready-Made Garment Sector of ILO Dhaka Office Tuomo Poutiainen, said, from the ILO perspective, education and knowledge are important for capacity building of the government, regulatory agencies, young entrepreneurs, workers and young professionals, which is key to sustain safety initiatives in longer terms.
Trade union leader Z M Kamrul Anam said as per the ILO convention ratified by Bangladesh, workers have the right to organise and bargain. This is equally important for the management to have a workers' representative to discuss emerging issues.
Trade unions and workers have their rights and responsibilities as well, he added.
He also made a plea to make the workers aware of their rights and responsibilities.
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Green Delta Insurance Company Limited Farzana Chowdhury said insurance companies can work strategically with RMG factory owners for building awareness of workers by road shows in the industrial areas, cultural shows etc.
Head of Programmes, Joint ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) Debbie Coulter said there is an increasing demand from buyers that exporters and manufacturers have social dialogues with workers.
She also laid importance to harmonious relationship between workers and management.
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