BD efforts to improve factory safety appreciated

Speakers at a follow-up meeting in Brussels have appreciated Bangladesh's commitment towards fulfilling the actions outlined in the Sustainability Compact for workers' safety, reports UNB.
They particularly acknowledged the amendment made to the Bangladesh Labour Act, recruitment of inspectors and abolishment of customs duty on the import of fire safety equipment and prefabricated building materials, said a Commerce Ministry handout on Tuesday.
The parties commented that if Bangladesh can recruit 189 inspectors within December 2015 as recommended by the Public Service Commission (PSC), it would be a big achievement in terms of strengthening the government's ability to regulate the RMG sector on its own.
The European Union, the United States, Bangladesh and ILO met in Brussels on Monday to take stock of the progress on the actions outlined in the Sustainability Compact adopted on July 8, 2013.
A 12-member delegation, led by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, and comprising Senior Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and other officials from the government and private sector attended the meeting.
Trade union leaders from Bangladesh and other countries, representatives from BGMEA, BKMEA, Bangladesh Employers Federation, ACCRD and ALLIANCE and NGOs also attended the session.
EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs László Andor, ILO Deputy Director General Sandra Polaski, US Ambassador Dan Mozena, Netherlands Ambassador Gerben de Jong also spoke on the occasion.
The Commerce Minister said the government has increased the minimum wage of RMG workers in addition to taking actions to improve the occupational safety, working condition and labour rights in Bangladesh.
BGMEA President M Atiqul Islam urged the buyers and retailers no to cancel their orders from the factories located in shared buildings, where more than 1.5 million workers are rendering their services.
Elaborating the ongoing BGMEA initiative to improve occupational  safety, working condition and labour rights in the sector and increased cost associated with these initiatives, he also urged the buyers and retailers to consider raising the prices.