German Ambassador in Dhaka Dr Albrecht Conze on Sunday said Bangladesh’s future as an ‘emerging industrial country’ depends on a reputation of excellence, and reassured Germany’s help to that end.
He mentioned that the reputation of excellence is not only associated with the quality of Bangladeshi products but also with compliance in line with ‘internationally agreed’ social standards.
“These standards need to be established, controlled and monitored,” said the German diplomat while addressing a function at CIRDAP auditorium in the city where the German Development Cooperation, GIZ, presented 20 motorcycles to the labour inspectors under the Labour and Employment Ministry.
State Minister for Labour and Employment M Mojibul Haque Chunnu, Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President M Atiqul Islam Country Director of GIZ, Tobias Becker and the Program Coordinator of the PSES project Magnus Schimd also spoke on the occasion, said a media release.
Conze said a well-trained and adequately equipped public inspection system is needed to avoid any repetition of the Tazreen and Rana Plaza disasters. “Germany remains committed to providing help. Factory inspectors need to be mobile, and today, GIZ provides transport capability.”
Welcoming the initiative, the envoy also said the labour inspectors are the most important component of the labour inspection system. “Currently, there is a shortage of both manpower and transport facilities with over 5,500 factories in the readymade garment sector alone,” he said.
Source: UNBConnect