Focus on international standard: Mozena to RMG owners

Stressing the importance of maintaining international standard, US Ambassador Dan W Mozena called on the RMG factory owners to reject ‘business as usual’ and lead ‘enthusiastically and creatively’ the transformation of the sector to avert tragedies like Tazreen and Rana Plaza.
“I believe business as usual is a recipe for more Tazreen Fashions and Rana Plaza tragedies, which will destroy the prospects for Bangladesh’s apparel sector in the global marketplace,” he said.
The US diplomat was addressing the launching ceremony of a documentary film on the RMG sector, titled ‘It’s not all about the price tag’, at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Tuesday,

Citing an example, Mozena said early this month at a meeting with government officials some factory owners made clear their opposition to bringing their factories to international standards for worker safety and labour rights, claiming the standard is too high.

“To me, the unstated, but the clear message from these owners was that since orders keep coming, since profits keep mounting, why should I incur additional costs in meeting these higher standards … to me, the message seemed to be – let’s go back to business as usual,” he explained, according to a news agency.