Speakers at a workshop Tuesday stressed the need for setting up institutional, regulatory and oversight mechanisms relating to building and fire safety to ensure a safe working environment in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
The workshop titled 'Institutional Collaboration on Strengthening Building and Fire Safety Inspection Systems in the RMG Sector' brought together key government institutions, employers' and workers' organisations to explore areas and opportunities for more effective collaboration on building, fire and electrical safety.
The programme, held in the city, was jointly organised by the government and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
"We all recognise that responsibility to ensure a safe ready-made garment sector lies with the relevant government authorities here in Bangladesh," ILO Country Director Srinivas B Reddy said adding the ILO, international donors, Accord, Alliance and the BUET are providing support in this regard by carrying out inspections and providing training.
"However, we need to look at what comes next and prepare for the day when the authorities are able to carry out this role with confidence and to international standards without donor or industry support," he added.
"We have taken a lot of measures to improve fire safety but still many challenges such as water and equipment shortages, unregulated buildings and traffic congestion remain, said Ali Ahmed Khan, Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department.
We must take more preventative measures and increase the number of fire stations in RMG factory areas, he said. He highlighted the need for modernisation of the fire service as well as fire safety regulations in line with internationally-acceptable standards.
Syed Ahmed, Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), expressed his hope that the process would yield real benefits in the future.
"If we are to modernise existing legal and policy mechanisms relating to building and fire safety inspections and approvals, it is instrumental to address gaps and overlaps in the current legislative and policy environment. We must also put in motion a process to develop a common assessment regime that will greatly benefit the government, employers and workers of Bangladesh," Mr Ahmed added.
Representatives from the ministries of labour, housing and public works, home affairs, the Bangladesh Employers' Federation, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Accord, Alliance, the National Coordination Committee for Workers Education and the IndustriAll Bangladesh Council, were, present at the programme.
(jahangir_fe@yahoo.com)