Business

RMG Units In Bangladesh Faced With Penalty Clause Over Safety Hazards

The Bangladesh government has initiated penal measures to check the non-compliance of readymade garment factories pertaining to labour norms. The government’s move to curb malpractices is being supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Consequent to the government initiative, the Department of Inspection For Factories and Establishments suspended the licences of 219 factories catering to the RMG sector. Further, the government body has also communicated to the apex bodies in charge of the RMG sector, namely the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), a request to stop issuing utilization declaration to these factories.

Both the export bodies have decided to pursue the matter with their 219 non-compliant member factories to decide an appropriate course of action that will help meeting government norms.

The complaint given these export bodies stated that the 219 units posed hazardous working conditions and raised serious safety concerns. The factories have failed to make the required progress in the ILO’s remediation process that was set in place to upgrade safety standards.