Apparel buyers' message

We shall have to realise as a garments exporting country that Bangladesh has been catapulted into a highly competitive world business environment following the end of the MFA regime. We are passing through a critical phase when any loss of ground in the international market will be a blow to the RMG sector.

There have been a series of fire incidents in the garments factories which might have sent out negative signals about worker safety in them. The media has from time to time covered issues pertaining to working conditions in the garments factories and the hazards that workers face. The leaders of the BGMEA have also discussed the matter with owners of the factories. But things have not really improved.

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Even the issue of paying compensation to the workers and their families in the case of Spectrum factory building collapse has not yet been settled.

The government has also drawn criticism for not strictly enforcing the rules and guidelines. The problem with violation of universally accepted norms and standards is that the country's image abroad is tarnished. And our space in the international market may shrink despite the high quality of our products.

The members of the visiting delegation of apparel buyers and labour oganisations have made it clear that they are primarily concerned with payment of compensation to the victims of accidents, investigation of structural soundness of all the multi-storied factories, and compliance with international labour standards. These issues have been brought to the fore by the Savar factory collapse. Indeed, providing humanitarian assistance following a disaster is not enough.

Establishment of workers' rights is something that Bangladesh is fully committed to as a nation. The point becomes doubly important when it concerns people working in the premier foreign exchange earning sector. The government, BGMEA and factory owners should work together and create the conditions where workers' rights, which are recognised in principle otherwise, will be fully established in practice as well.

Let nobody forget that we are dealing with the question of survival of thousands upon thousands of garment factory workers, most of them under-privileged women, who must get all the consideration they need.