Better Work to bring boon for RMG makers

Louis B Vanegas, programme manager for Better Work (BW) Bangladesh, came up with the remarks while talking to a group of journalists in the capital yesterday.

In 2014, International Labor Organization (ILO) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, launched the Better Work Programme to improve working conditions and promote competitiveness in the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh.

The International Labor Organisation (ILO) has targeted 225 garment factories at its fold by 2017 for ensuring more social compliance and more worker rights.

Currently, 98 garment factories in Bangladesh are the members of the BW programme from 2014.

“Bangladesh can build its image through participation in BW as it is working on ensuring workers rights and  other compliance,” said Vanegas.

“In the primary assessment, we have found violation of labor rights, occupational safety, overtime and participation committee,” Vanegas said, adding that the next course of action would be to fix it.

An independent review of the BW programme launched yesterday showed significant gains in the quality of life workers in the factories enjoy as well as enhanced productivity and profitability for those business involved.

The final report on Bangladesh would be launched in October.

“We have set a target to engage 225 more factories by the end of next June and 500 factories by the end of 2021,” Vanegas added.

A factory with 1,000 workers has to pay $3000 for joining the BW while the buyers have also to pay for joining the programme.

If a factory joins the BW it will not have to asses social audit, which is necessary for a factory to receive work orders.

For joining the BW, a factory has to show documents from the Accord and Alliance that it has done safety improvement in terms of electrical, fire and structural issues.

Commenting on the BW, Vanegas said 95% RMG owners are joining the programme due to mounting pressure from their buyers.

Established in 2009 by the ILO and IFC, BW aims to improve working conditions and promote competitiveness in global garment supply chains.

Currently, BW is functioning in seven countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Jordan, Haiti and Nicaragua, engaging 1,300 factories employing more than 1.6 million workers.

In Bangladesh, 120 factories have so far been recruited and 98 registered, employing 20,1995 workers while the number of global buyers is 31.

Source: Dhaka Tribune