DIFE website with database launched

The government launched Sunday official website of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) where a database on country's apparel sector has been put in place.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Md Mojibul Haque Chunnu formally opened the website at a function held at his secretariat office.
The DIFE in cooperation with International Labour Organisation (ILO) has developed the website www.dife.gov.bd, to meet one of the conditions set earlier by the US and European Union for restoration of Bangladesh's GSP facilities there and sustaining it.
"The database contains information of 3,498 garment units across the country including their location, name of owners and number of workers," the minister said.   
The DIFE will update the website from time to time, he added.
With the launching of the website especially with the database of garment sector, labour and employment ministry has fulfilled one of the two conditions for restoration of the generalized system of preferences (GSP) facility in the US market and sustain the same benefit in the EU market, he said.
Earlier, the US under its Action Plan and the Sustainability Compact recommended a publicly-accessible database on labour, fire and building inspection providing information on factories, their location, violation identified, fines and sanctions administered, factories closed or relocated and the violation corrected.
It also suggested making public information on the status and final outcomes of individual union registration applications, including the time taken to process those and the basis for denial and information on collective bargaining agreements.
Replying to a question, Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar said the information regarding the trade union will also be incorporated on the database through an interlink with the labour directorate.
ILO Country Director Srinivas Reddy and DIFE Inspector General Syed Ahmed, among others, were present at the event.