Only 273 garment factories out of 1,600 inspected by the western retailers' platform, Accord, have managed to fix the safety hazards found in initial inspection.
The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety sprang to life close on the heels of Rana Plaza building collapse that killed more than 1,100 workers in April 2013.
The retailers-led groupings were dedicated to improving the workplace safety in the country's readymade garment sector.
Until January 01 last, a total of 273 factories completed full remediation from the initial audits, according to the Accord's latest update made available on its official website.
Some 1,173 garment factories completed 90 per cent remediation, it said, marking 91 per cent the overall remediation progress until January 01.
Still, the installation of fire detection and alarm system completion rate is 55 per cent, while 46 per cent factories have done installation of fire suppression system, it said.
Accord received 1,900 complaints while 664 were non-occupational safety and health-related.
Some 552 safety complaints raised by workers or their representatives have been resolved by its safety and health complaints mechanism, it said.
Currently, 156 complaints are under investigation, it noted.
Accord has terminated business relations with 167 factories on the grounds of non-compliance with required remedial work.
President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, BGMEA, Dr Rubana Huq acknowledged the slow progress in fire safety.
The Accord and the BGMEA did not have any joint technical committee before and alternative national context was not inserted and practiced, she said, explaining the reasons behind slow advancement.
"In spite of great progress in structural and electrical, the apparently slow remediation in fire has caused the low figures," she added.
Of the remaining 1,390 factories, 616 have completed fire alarm system installation and are now ready for testing and commissioning.
If these factories could pass such testing, the number of 100 per cent completed factories would increase to over 800.
The BGMEA chief expressed the hope the proper remediation picture will be reflected by the end of May when the joint technical committee comprising the Accord and the association find out the reasons for the low number.
The last joint technical committee meeting minutes were finalised recently and they would be announcing the joint technical resolutions shortly, which would help seal the issues of the remaining factories, she said.
Accord, a platform of more than 220 mostly European brands, buyers and trade unions, was formed for five years, which ended in May 2018.
Later, the government allowed a six-month extension to the Accord until November 30, 2018, although the platform pressed for more time.
In May 2019, the Supreme Court allowed the Accord to continue its activities for 281 days after it signed a memorandum of understanding with the BGMEA.
According to the memo, the proposed RMG sustainability council would be set up during this period and inherit both the Accord's staff and infrastructure after the expiry of its tenure.
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