Bangladesh needs to work more on updating its labour law, regulations and policies for ensuring decent working conditions in its garment sector and achieving sustainable development goals by 2030.
Even though Bangladesh is about to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) status, there is still a lot of work to be done in the apparel sector, said Nicolas Linus Ragnas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh.
"More precisely, policymakers should provide support to eliminate harassment and ensure timely salary payment, among others, which is crucial at this moment," he told a knowledge sharing workshop at a city hotel on Wednesday.
The workshop titled 'Productivity and Green Skills for the RMG Sector in Bangladesh' was organised to disseminate the findings and outcomes of the skills and productivity activity area under the PROGRESS project.
Funded by the Embassy of Sweden and implemented by Swisscontact, the project began in October 2022 with the goal of fostering an inclusive, environmentally responsible, and competitive RMG sector.
The ambassador said the project aligns seamlessly with Bangladesh's aspirations to become a resilient economy.
"By investing in green skills and empowering women, we are not only strengthening the workforce but also fostering a more equitable and sustainable society," he noted.
This initiative reflects the shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and believe that international cooperation is essential to achieving them, he added.
Speaking at the panel discussion, Sheikh HM Mustafiz, managing director of Cute Dress Industry Ltd. stressed on developing functional and effective complaints mechanisms to timely address labour-related issues.
Workers still come to the street to get salary in absence of a comprehensive grievance mechanism that includes coordinations among all agencies.
The workers' unrest is tarnishing the image of the sector, he said, adding that sustainability cannot be achieved without addressing those issues.
He, however, stressed on deferring the graduation process for at least five years, saying the indicators of SDGs' progress were prepared based on inflated and manipulated information.
Maria Stridsman, Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden said investing in people and the planet is essential to addressing global challenges such as climate change and inequality.
And the PROGRESS project aligns perfectly with these values, by focusing on skill development, productivity enhancement, and environmental sustainability in the garment industry.
She expected that the project would establish an important precedent by demonstrating practical solutions and successful business cases where investing in sustainability benefits not only environmental health but also the profitability of manufacturers.
Mujibul Cezanne Hasan, country director, Swisscontact Bangladesh, in his opening remarks said through this project they aim to enhance green skills, improve productivity, and support the RMG sector in adopting sustainable production practices.
Rafiat Salman, senior manager, Skills & Productivity, PROGRESS, Swisscontact Bangladesh made a presentation on the project.
Professor Mohammad Abdul Momen Co-Founder and Director of Pride Group, Syeda Shaila Ashraf Corporate HR, Admin & IT Head, Renaissance Group, Sku Prodip Gabriel Manager Sustainability at H&M and Rajesh Veda CEO and managing director of Rajesh Veda Consulting, among others, spoke there.
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