SCF to be revived to address RMG issues
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Nazmul Ahsan
The Social Compliance Forum (SCF), established about five years back to address issues relating to the readymade garments, will be revived soon with a view to finding an effective solution to the problems hurting this vital industry, official sources said.
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) will be at the helm of the Forum, which is expected to make efforts to increase the minimum wages of garment workers, identify elements involved in destructive activities and improve the working conditions in various RMG units soon, sources in the ministry said.
"We will soon convene a meeting of the SCF to address the problems in the RMG industry," a top MoC official said.
"The moves of the Forum will be broad-based and far-sighted."
He said the MoC is going to undertake the responsibility under the banner of SCF to address major issues including wage hike, improving working conditions, workers' welfare and guidelines for necessary policy reforms for the country's largest export-oriented sector.
It is alleged that government has been by and large indifferent to the problems facing both workers and RMG owners.
"Look, whenever destruction and vandalism take place in the garment industry, the government makes statement of stern action against the culprits, but nothing tangible has happened so far", Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), former President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA), said.
"We are really in a helpless situation," he added.
A top official in the MoC dismissed the allegation that the government was indifferent to RMG problems and said the MoC, in consultation with different local and international stakeholders, is going to address the problems in totality.
Officials said exporters, trade union leaders, representatives from UNDP, ILO, major buyers, representatives from different ministries including that of labour are expected to attend the SCF meeting scheduled for next week.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan will preside over the meeting, they said.
The BGMEA has suspended operations of all garment units in Ashulia area for indefinite period following continued violence and acts of vandalism for the last few days.
The officials in the MoC said they have already listed a number of actions to be started on a first track basis. These are-increasing minimum wage for garment workers, improving working conditions and addressing legitimate concerns of workers.
The MoC under the platform of SCF will concentrate on reviewing the existing policies on social compliances, especially occupational safety and workforce welfare aspects, and to prepare guidelines for necessary policy reforms in long-term perspective.
The MoC would act as per the recommendations of the Forum, officials said.
Furthermore, the MoC will look after the compliance issues like working environment, wages, formation of welfare or representative committee in the garments sector, maternal leave for female workers, health and safety issues of the apparel sector.
The Social Compliance Forum (SCF), established about five years back to address issues relating to the readymade garments, will be revived soon with a view to finding an effective solution to the problems hurting this vital industry, official sources said.
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) will be at the helm of the Forum, which is expected to make efforts to increase the minimum wages of garment workers, identify elements involved in destructive activities and improve the working conditions in various RMG units soon, sources in the ministry said.
"We will soon convene a meeting of the SCF to address the problems in the RMG industry," a top MoC official said.
"The moves of the Forum will be broad-based and far-sighted."
He said the MoC is going to undertake the responsibility under the banner of SCF to address major issues including wage hike, improving working conditions, workers' welfare and guidelines for necessary policy reforms for the country's largest export-oriented sector.
It is alleged that government has been by and large indifferent to the problems facing both workers and RMG owners.
"Look, whenever destruction and vandalism take place in the garment industry, the government makes statement of stern action against the culprits, but nothing tangible has happened so far", Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), former President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA), said.
"We are really in a helpless situation," he added.
A top official in the MoC dismissed the allegation that the government was indifferent to RMG problems and said the MoC, in consultation with different local and international stakeholders, is going to address the problems in totality.
Officials said exporters, trade union leaders, representatives from UNDP, ILO, major buyers, representatives from different ministries including that of labour are expected to attend the SCF meeting scheduled for next week.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan will preside over the meeting, they said.
The BGMEA has suspended operations of all garment units in Ashulia area for indefinite period following continued violence and acts of vandalism for the last few days.
The officials in the MoC said they have already listed a number of actions to be started on a first track basis. These are-increasing minimum wage for garment workers, improving working conditions and addressing legitimate concerns of workers.
The MoC under the platform of SCF will concentrate on reviewing the existing policies on social compliances, especially occupational safety and workforce welfare aspects, and to prepare guidelines for necessary policy reforms in long-term perspective.
The MoC would act as per the recommendations of the Forum, officials said.
Furthermore, the MoC will look after the compliance issues like working environment, wages, formation of welfare or representative committee in the garments sector, maternal leave for female workers, health and safety issues of the apparel sector.