Results of 3 different surveys vary widely

A government survey has found little progress on safety-related compliance issues in the RMG (ready-made garment) sector, sources said.

The ministry of labour and employment (MoLE) surveyed 567 RMG factories during the October-December period last year to know the progresses made on the compliance issues.

At the same time, the BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) and the BKMEA ((Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association) surveyed 910 and 79 factories respectively in a unified format to review the progress.

But the results of the survey conducted by the labour ministry and that by the representative bodies of apparel unit owners vary widely.

The MoLE survey found that only 34 per cent of the surveyed factories were up to the mark in terms of factory building condition, 45 per cent factories were following the directives on fire-fighting and safety measures, and 42 per cent were at 'satisfactory level' on the electrical safety issue.

The survey also identified that 65 per cent factories had been up to the mark on labour safety, 87 per cent factories were following law on maternity leave and allowances, 80 per cent were following the regulation on leave, 91 per cent were paying wages in accordance with the new wage board award, service book provision was being followed at 59 per cent factories, 79 units were providing workers with identity cards with photos, and 74 per cent of the factories had issued appointment letters.

The BGMEA and the BKMEA surveys on most of the aforementioned issues found the factories compliant between 66 and 100 per cent.

The BGMEA survey found 100 per cent factories had been up to the mark on electrical safety issue, 99.67 per cent factories were following the instruction on fire-fighting and safety measures, 99 per cent were paying wages according to the new wage structure, 93 per cent had provided appointment letters, 91 per cent were following the law on leave, and 100 per cent factories were following the instruction on building condition.

On the other hand, the BKMEA survey found 90 per cent factories were paying wages in accordance with the new wage structure, 100 per cent factories had taken measures on labour safety, 98 per cent factories were following law on maternity leave and allowance, and 90 per cent factories had ensured fire-fighting equipment and safety measures.