The issue of implementation of safety programmes and transparency in the RMG factories has once again been questioned as rights groups have raised concerns on the effectiveness of the Readymade Garment Sustainability Council (RSC), the heir to the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, to ensure safety of the readymade garment factories in Bangladesh.
As per reports, it has also been alleged that the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), which is a member of the RSC’s governing board, has made false claims and unsubstantiated commitments to Building Safety in Bangladesh, which has, however, been strongly refuted by the apex garment makers’ body in Bangladesh, the BGMEA.
The NGOs — Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), Maquila Solidarity Network, Worker Rights Consortium, and Global Labor Justice – International Labor Rights Forum — witness signatory to the Accord, in a statement issued on 22 December, expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the RSC to credibly ensure implementation of the legally binding Accord agreement between 200 garment brands and the global and local trade unions.
It also alleged that the BGMEA response falsely claimed that the RSC was founded on the core principle that its governance structure brings together all critical stakeholders in one single platform with equal voice and authority and went on to add that in reality, the RSC is governed by a board of 18 directors that is made up of 12 representatives of financially vested companies (six brands and six factory owners), with representatives of workers (global and local unions) making up only a third of its members.
Meanwhile, BGMEA, reportedly, termed the claims (made by the labour rights groups) as false and incorrect and has refuted the allegations levelled against it.
Speaking to the media, the BGMEA President, Dr. Rubana Huq, reportedly, maintained that the BGMEA, as an association, cannot issue ‘false statement’ or could afford to have ‘unsubstantiated commitments’ to building safety in the country (Bangladesh), while underlining that the pilot programme for boiler safety has not been stopped, adding the Government has inspection standards and engineers who are ready to engage with the RSC on boiler inspections.
Thus, that claim too is incorrect, the BGMEA President maintained.
