The proposed RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) will be formed by November 25 to take over the Accord's activities and carry forward the ongoing workplace safety and compliance programme in the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Dr Rubana Huq announced this at the end of a two-day stakeholders' conference on RSC formation and transition at a city hotel on Tuesday.
The draft articles of association of the RSC, describing how to form the council with representatives from brands, unions and apparel sector leaders with support from the government and its functions, would be prepared by next month, she added.
"Since we do not believe in conflict, we want to resolve all the relevant issues through consensus. We are happy today as we have agreed unanimously to form the RSC for the greater sake of the industry," said Ms Huq.
Representatives of the Accord, brands and trade unions and apparel sector leaders attended the conference.
They discussed the formation of the RSC as previously agreed in the "Memorandum of Understanding" signed between the Accord Steering Committee and the BGMEA on May 8 last.
The parties discussed a wide range of issues to ensure a smooth transition of the Accord and its functions related to inspections, remediation, training and safety complaints mechanism to the RSC by the end of May 2020, said Edward David Southall, head of oversees sourcing of LC Waikiki.
"The RSC is an unprecedented national initiative, uniting industry, brands and trade unions to ensure a sustainable solution, based on a unified compliance standard, to carry forward the significant accomplishments made on workplace safety in Bangladesh," he said.
The RSC will also encompass industrial relations, skill development and environmental standards, he added.
The parties agreed on the importance of jointly developing the drafts of 'Memorandum and Articles' of the RSC and the 'Articles of Transition', he noted.
The Accord, a platform of more than 200 global apparel brands, retailers and rights groups mostly based in Europe, was formed immediately after the Rana Plaza building collapse to improve the workplace safety in the country's apparel industry for five years that ended in May last year.
Later, the government allowed a six-month extension to the Accord until November 30 last although the platform wanted to stay some more time.
In May this year, the Supreme Court allowed the Accord to continue its activities for 281 days after the Accord and the BGMEA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard.
As per the MoU, the proposed RSC 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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