Manufacturers emphasise RMG buyers’ responsibility to uphold human rights and fair wages. Manufacturers in the readymade garment (RMG) sector have highlighted the crucial role of global buyers in promoting human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD).
They assert that buyers should fulfill this responsibility by paying fair prices for RMG products. Additionally, manufacturers emphasise the need for buyers to raise awareness among their consumers about the importance of paying ethical prices for green and sustainably produced RMG items.
In order to enhance manufacturers’ understanding of the standards and requirements of the HREDD (Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence), the BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) and BKMEA (Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association) jointly inaugurated the Responsible Business Hub (RBH) on Sunday, in collaboration with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).
Shahidullah Azim, VP of BGMEA, stated that the RBH would offer factories current knowledge and guidance on human rights and environmental due diligence obligations.
He emphasised that collaboration is necessary with buyers taking responsibility for human rights and the environment, as setting up factories with a focus on these areas comes at a high cost and fair prices are crucial for sustainability.
He highlighted the need for a unified code of conduct for different buyers, which currently incurs audit costs of US $ 1,000-US $ 2,000, emphasizing that it would save time and money. At the RBH launch, Reinhard Junker from BMZ delivered the keynote address.
He further mentioned that Bangladeshi apparel manufacturers face competition from non-compliant exporters, as buyers tend to overlook compliance issues when sourcing from China.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
