National action plan yet to be realised

Following the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013, western retailers came up with some reform programmes under Accord and Alliance while the government worked out a national plan of action with 25 commitments. The US provided a 16-point plan of action while the government agreed with the EU Sustainability Compact with a list of 30 activities. Later, the US also joined the Sustainability Compact.
The government is yet to finalise the rules -- one of the major requirements of both the US action plan and Sustainability Compact despite extension of the deadline several times.
The EPZ law should be brought in line with international standards so that workers in EPZ factories can enjoy freedom of association and collective bargaining agent rights as other workers in the country. The draft law is now gathering dust at the ministry of law for scrutiny.
The government initiated a move to bring the factories that mainly do subcontract under regulations especially after the Tazreen fire that killed 112 workers. But the draft has not been finalised yet.
The government-ILO joint programme failed to complete assessment of the factories that remain outside the inspection purview of western retailers. Some 700 factories have so far been assessed while 1,000 others are yet to be inspected mainly due to inconsistency in factory information including addresses and contact numbers and non-cooperation from manufacturers.
Regarding safety issues, another problem is yet to be addressed as some 800 factories that are affiliated neither with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) nor with Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). These units are still outside inspection programmes carried out by Accord, Alliance and NTPA.
When contacted, Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar said the rules are expected to be finalised by May next.
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