In an effort to bring Bangladesh’s readymade garment and textile sectors under the regulation of the Department of Textile (DoT), the Government has taken an initiative to formulate the textile (industry registration) rules under the Textile Act 2018, as per media reports.
As per the draft, the apparel and textile industries would reportedly have to fulfil a number of criteria, including environmental and workplace-related compliances, to obtain licence from the DoT.
Further, the respective manufacturing units/factories would also have to submit updated versions of all the required documents, install fire extinguishers in premises while discharge of industrial wastage into rivers or other water bodies has been disallowed.
In order to obtain the required licence, establishments would have to harvest rain water to reduce the use of ground water.
The draft also reportedly underlined that factory authorities were not allowed to employ child workers and were required to provide for day care centres and maternity leaves with benefits to female workers to ensure a decent work environment.
According to the draft, entrepreneurs needed to file applications with the DoT along with the documents of the updated trade licence, income tax certificate, certificate of incorporation as limited company and bank solvency certificate, factory layout plan approved by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, fire licence and environmental clearance.
