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Standards in garment & textile industries improved

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November 21, 2000 

Dhaka-- (UNB)- Observing that the levels of social standards in garment and textile industries have improved, a seminar also called for more proactive approaches for reviewing minimum wages and prioritizing fire safety.

Better social standards in the factories would pay off in terms of increased productivity, better corporate identity and good international image, commented the speakers of the seminar.

German Embassy in Dhaka and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) jointly organised the seminar on "improving social standards in the garment and textile industries" at IDB Bhaban yesterday(Tuesday).

Speakers included garment owners, government officials, trade union leaders, lawyers and international consultants.

Presenting a catalogue of social standards for the garment and textiles industries in Bangladesh, InnovateCo Consultants team leader Dr Berthold Kuhn stated that the level of social standards in Bangladesh had already improved over the past years.

"Especially in the Export Processing Zone, social standards were relatively high, going beyond basic requirement of ILO conventions," Kuhn said.

To substantiate his claim he showed digital images of best social practices in factories in and outside the Export Processing Zones.

Fire safety arrangements, comfortable working conditions and other facilities like medical support, canteens, prayer room and bathrooms for workers came up in his presentation.

He said child labour had been greatly reduced thanks to efforts of ILO, BGMEA, and UNICEF, while many factories had taken initiatives to increase the safety of workers in view of many fire accidents.

"The major challenge for Bangladesh will now be to introduce trade unions in the EPZs which are not federated with the heavy politicised trade unions outside," Dr Kuhn said.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) director GKM Towfique Hassan opinioned that legislation was largely satisfactory in Bangladesh, but implementation would need improvements.

Nahid Hasan, MD of Shomahar Sweater, Ltd., focused on timely payment of wages, medical facilities, accommodation and appointment letters.

The trade union representative of the Bangladesh Garments Workers Federation, Khorshed Alam, pinpointed that review of minimum wages had not taken place since 1994.

He alleged that some owners were setting unrealistic production targets and compelling the workers to work overtime without adequate remuneration.

Alam stressed some successful cooperation between trade unions and factory owners maintaining a strike-free environment, low migration and high quantity and quality of production.

BGMEA representative Ghyasuddin Khan stated various action programmes taken up by the garment sector apex body to improve social standards in the garment industry.

He felt that key issues like fire safety should be prioritized and translated into action programmes, like in the case of the successful elimination of child labour.

Contributions from the floor, including those of ILO representative Christian von Mitzlaff, H&M Code of Conduct Manager Tobias Fischer and International Textile Expert Aslam Hyat, recommended that factory owners should take a more proactive approach in addressing social standards.

Ms Mahniur Akter of the Bangladesh Independent Garments Workers Union Federation (BIGUF) and lawyer Ms Fahima Nasreen pinpointed that there was great need for improvement of safety and security for women workers as well as ensuring actual payment of minimum wages.

Nasreen said there were 77 rape cases reported in 1999. She said her term did not enjoy support from BGMEA in bringing to light the circumstances of the incidents. Compensation for workers' families in case of accidents was also insufficient.

Zaman, Country Representative of InnovateCO Consultants, specialised on social innovation in business and development, and Dr Tabatabai, Director of the GTZ also spoke on the occasion.

They said that the catalogue could serve as a model how to improve social standards with little costs.

Attitudinal change was most important for social innovations and the GTZ would be happy to support new initiatives for the development of the garment sector of Bangladesh in view of forthcoming challenges and increased international competition, GTZ director said.

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