Canadian envoy for continued efforts to ensure workplace safety in BD\\\'s RMG sector

Canadian High Commissioner Heather Cruden called for continued efforts Thursday to help comply with the workplace safety and labour standards in Bangladesh's apparel sector.
Terming the ongoing initiatives made by the government and the apparel makers not so satisfactory, she suggested putting in pressure to meet the remaining challenges in respect of workers' rights and safety issues.
"There have been lots of achievements over the year. But it is fair to say progress may not quickly happen, may be the expectations are unrealistic," Ms Cruden told the reporters after an information sharing session on "Post Rana Plaza Initiatives and the Current Senario of the RMG Sector" with the apparel sector leaders.
Organized by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the session was attended by 14 foreign diplomats including the US, EU, German, Denmark, France, Sweden, France, Norway and Spain and donor agencies, IFC, JICA, GIZ and USAID.
Dr Ahsan H Mansur, Executive Director of PRI and BGMEA President Atiqul Islam made two separate presentations during the meeting.
It is important for all parties that are engaged to continue and maintain pressure and commitments momentum, Ms Cruden said adding Bangladesh readymade garment sector created lots of employment and empowered women.
"But we can't be complacent," she went on "as we continue moving forward to progress in some complicated areas like factory inspections, remediation, compensation, workers' payment, trade union, workplace safety and workers' rights and database."
ILO country director Srinivas Reddy said factory inspection is gaining momentum and more than 600 factories have been assessed while the rest will be done by this year.
During the last 15 months, about 134 trade unions are registered which is significant in terms of right to associate and collective bargaining, he added.
Regarding compensation, he said all the Rana Plaza workers will get Tk 50,000 each as compensation while 480 workers have already received the payment and the rest will get it by April 24 next, he added.
Dr Ahsan H Mansur in his presentation described post Rana Plaza challenges and the challenges to be competitive amid price pressures and recommended policies and strategy for financing RMG reforms.
The progress and growth of the sector must be with raising living standard of the workers, he suggested.