GIZ, EU celebrate four years of collaboration in RMG sector

GIZ, the German Development Cooperation, and the European Union (EU) marked and celebrated four years of their collaboration improving labour standards in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh.

"Promotion of Social and Environmental Standards in the Industry" (PSES) Project arranged the programme in the city Sunday, said a statement.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Ministry Mujibul Haque Chunnu attended the programme as the chief guest.

He said, "The EU has been playing an important role in the development of Bangladesh for over four decades and through this project implemented with the German Development Cooperation has played a key role in ensuring the health and safety of workers in the RMG sector."

The minister added, "Government of Bangladesh and representatives of Bangladesh employers' and workers' organisations have already signed an integrated National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety and Structural Integrity in the garment sector. In line with the Action Plan, Bangladesh has amended its labour law improving workers' rights. It has also upgraded its system for inspecting factory safety and begun the recruitment process of hundreds of new inspectors."

European Union envoy to Bangladesh William Hanna said we need to 'stay engaged' and continue the good work, if the positive changes brought about in the framework of this GIZ-implemented project and of the EU-Bangladesh sustainability compact are to become permanent and meaningful.

"The message should be loud and clear, in today's world and tomorrow's wordl, market access and sustainability go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other", he added.

The project works to enhance social standards in the RMG sector. PSES is a joint project of the Bangladesh government and the Federal German government and has been working in the field of social standards in the RMG sector as part of the Better Work and Standard (BEST) programme of the Bangladesh government. The majority of the programme is funded by EU, co-funded by the German Government and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by GIZ and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Since July 2010, the initiative aims to strengthen the RMG sector through better compliance with the minimum standards of the Bangladesh Labour Law 2006. The initiative targets to increase the adherence to international labour and social standards.