IFC honoured for helping improve country's garment labour conditions
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
The Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has honoured IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, for its efforts to help improve labour conditions for more than 2.4 million people who work in the country's garments industry.
IFC has worked with the association for five years to implement audits of fire drills, worker safety and child-labour monitoring in Bangladesh's readymade garments sector, where most workers are women.
So far 1,240 factories have been audited and by the end of the year, all remaining factories in Bangladesh will be covered.
The crest was presented at the Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition, which was held from November 6 through November 8. Deepak Adhikary, head of IFC Advisory Services in South Asia, received the crest of honour on IFC's behalf.
"Good compliance practices and improved productivity can help companies create long-term value and sustainability," asserted Mr Adhikary.
Among other achievements, the BGMEA cited the Productivity Improvement Programme that was designed and implemented by IFC at numerous factories.
The programme addressed a critical market gap-- the need for local service providers who can help garment factories become more efficient and competitive. It led to the emergence of seven service providers who are now catering to the market on a commercial basis
IFC Advisory Services in South Asia works to increase access to finance and quality business development services in the region, in partnership with the governments of the Netherlands and Norway, the European Commission, the UK Department for International Development, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Asian Development Bank.
IFC has worked with the association for five years to implement audits of fire drills, worker safety and child-labour monitoring in Bangladesh's readymade garments sector, where most workers are women.
So far 1,240 factories have been audited and by the end of the year, all remaining factories in Bangladesh will be covered.
The crest was presented at the Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition, which was held from November 6 through November 8. Deepak Adhikary, head of IFC Advisory Services in South Asia, received the crest of honour on IFC's behalf.
"Good compliance practices and improved productivity can help companies create long-term value and sustainability," asserted Mr Adhikary.
Among other achievements, the BGMEA cited the Productivity Improvement Programme that was designed and implemented by IFC at numerous factories.
The programme addressed a critical market gap-- the need for local service providers who can help garment factories become more efficient and competitive. It led to the emergence of seven service providers who are now catering to the market on a commercial basis
IFC Advisory Services in South Asia works to increase access to finance and quality business development services in the region, in partnership with the governments of the Netherlands and Norway, the European Commission, the UK Department for International Development, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Asian Development Bank.