BGMEA, Impactt sign MoU to boost output in RMG industry

FE Report | Published: February 07, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The country's apex apparel body -- Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) -- teamed up with the ethical trading consultancy -- Impactt -- aiming to increase productivity in the readymade garment (RMG) industry.
BGMEA and Impactt signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this connection Thursday where BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam along with its other office-bearers, head of DFID Bangladesh Sarah Cook and Chairman of Impactt Bangladesh Private Ltd Rosey Hurst, among other representatives of different brands, were present.
The two parties will partner to roll out the programme titled 'Benefits for Business and Workers (BBW)' which has already improved efficiency and quality and supported better jobs for workers in 45 factories in the country.
Rosey Hurst said partnership with the BGMEA is important as it will enable a more competitive industry that provides better jobs for its workers.
BGMEA Vice President Reaz-bin-Mahmood said the cost of doing business is ever increasing while prices of products are declining and there has been appreciation of local currency against dollar.
"Unfortunately these things are not in our hands, so we should focus on areas that we can control and explore to increase our competitiveness," he said adding that productivity is one such area and it has been a major strategic issue for the industry.
Increasing productivity and efficiency can be an opportunity to bridge the gap between the problems and potentials, he added.
BBW is an innovative, low-cost training and consultancy programme which focuses on improving factories' productivity, efficiency, quality and human resources management and is delivering better jobs for workers. It champions investment in the workforce, proper induction systems, better communications and better access to skills development and promotion, increasing employees' satisfaction and prompting a sense of self-worth while workers are able to enhance their skills and access promotion, achieving better social mobility.
Now the programme will be rolled out to 200 garment factories in Dhaka and Chittagong by 2015 while Impactt will build the capacity of the BGMEA's productivity improvement cell and Rajesh Bheda Consulting will provide training for the productivity modules.