Alliance to work closely with labour groups

The Alliance for Bangladesh Workers’ Safety, an initiative of North American retailers and brands, has pledged to work more closely with Bangladesh labour groups. Alliance’s local Managing Director Rabin Mesbah said this emerged from discussions at the body’s annual board meeting on July 21 in the US. The meeting also discussed projects implemented and ongoing and the roadmap for the next 2 years. Mesbah said: ‘It was decided that the Alliance would work more closely with workers’ organisations. From the very beginning Alliance has been working with labour unions. Bangladesh government has recently amended the labour act and allowed workers to form trade union in Export Processing Zones (EPZ). ‘This will create more RMG workers’ trade unions. Alliance has made up its mind to work with the labour leaders and to train them up.’ Rabin said Alliance will organise for the second time ‘The Building and Fire Safety Expo, 2014’ on Dec 7-9 to display fire safety equipment. Factory owners, brands, retailers, NGO and government officials will participate, according to bdnews24.com.