The BGMEA and the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh have officially signed a transition agreement to finalise the creation of the new RMG sustainability council (RSC), which aims to oversee the safety of garment workers in the country. According to the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties, all major functions of the Accord office in Bangladesh will transition into the new RSC before 31st May 2020.
The move comes at the same time as more than 80 garment factories in Bangladesh were stripped of their rights to import duty-free fabrics and raw materials due to safety breaches. The newly signed MoU between the BGMEA and the outgoing Accord to transition all safety work to the not-for-profit RSC by the end of May marks a new milestone for the Bangladesh textile and garment sector, which is still troubled by concerns around worker safety.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Export Association (BGMEA) calls the new RSC an “unprecedented national supply chain initiative, uniting industry, brands and trade unions to ensure a sustainable solution to carry forward the significant accomplishments made on workplace safety in Bangladesh.”
It will operate within the regulatory framework of the laws of Bangladesh and support the regulatory functions of the Government, retaining all health and safety inspections and remediation, safety training and complaints currently carried out by the Accord.
The BGMEA claims the agreement means that existing decisions, policies and protocols developed by the Accord will be carried over to the new RSC with all “transparency features of the Accord” being maintained. This includes full public disclosure of inspection results and remediation activities.
Additionally, factories currently covered by the Accord shall be carried over to the RSC retaining their remediation status and any outstanding requirements with all operations and staff located at the Accord Office in Dhaka transferred to the RSC.
“The RSC will appoint a Chief Safety Officer, retaining the same independence, autonomy, authorities, and reporting requirements practiced by the Accord,” says the BGMEA.
However, for now, the BGMEA still remains at loggerheads with Nirapon – which replaced the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety – over the formation of the RSC, which BGMEA wants it to back.
But supported by big US apparel brands, Nirapon intends to continue its own work with third-party service providers in Bangladesh to promote worker safety management, training and worker helpline programs for all its member factories.
The wrangle between these two organisations comes at a time when the BGMEA itself is also implementing new, drastic measures to ensure compliance on safety by withdrawing export licenses to companies that transgress.
A situation itself which backs up Nirapon’s claims that its own existence remains vital to protect the safety of workers in Bangladesh that make the clothes of its member companies such as Walmart, Kohls and VF Corporation.
