Welcoming the proposed unified code of conduct for readymade garment industry, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Tuesday urged the RMG makers to include all stakeholders in the committee working on the matter.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) on January 09 held a meeting at BGMEA’s Gulshan office to form a committee, in order to make a unified code of conduct for the RMG sector.
Expressing hope over the initiative, TIB said to make an effective code of conduct for the RMG industry, the committee should include representatives from workers, worker’s organisations, work safety and rights groups, and social organisations.
In a statement, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the RMG industry in the country had somewhat recovered the image, which was damaged after the Rana Plaza collapse, through different local and international initiatives related to workplace safety.
However, the sector needs to travel a long way to achieve the desired progress, he noted.
Under such circumstances, the initiative to frame a code of conduct for the sector by BGMEA and BKMEA is a timely step, he noted.
To transform the proposed code of conduct from a mere formality to appropriately effective, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, representatives of RMG stakeholders – the government, workers’ organisations, rights groups, research organisations, civil society, etc – should be included in the review committee.
BGMEA and BKMEA formed an 11-member committee headed by BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali.
The body will assess feasibility of a common code of conduct for social audits, including national laws, rules and policies, and international conventions as well as buyers’ code of conduct.