In all, 171 readymade garment (RMG) factories in Bangladesh, which are on the suppliers’ list of Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, are reportedly made no progress on factory remediation as suggested by Accord. They had been given around three months to one and a half years’ time to initiate work.
Also Read – Accord seeks BGMEA intervention to speed-up remediation process
According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), of the 171 factories, most of them have actually been inspected by Accord more than one and a half years ago. The apex garment exporters’ body further stated that from the list of 553 factories (of which 522 are members of BGMEA) as provided by Accord— in which the inspection body alleged remediation progress was below 40 per cent – the progress on remediation in 211 factories was 0-10 per cent, in 85 factories 11-20 per cent, in 103 factories 21-30 per cent, while the progress in 154 factories are in the range of 30-40 per cent.
Also Read – 3 firms using unethical practices in DEA, alleges Alliance
As such, the BGMEA has now decided to start a series of meetings with the factories to find out the reasons for the slow progress on remediation work, besides trying to find out a solution to expedite the remediation process.
It may be mentioned here that in the light of the reported slow progress (less than 40 per cent) of remediation work in garment factories, which are on the suppliers’ list of Accord, the platform of European brands and retailers recently approached the BGMEA, seeking its intervention to expedite the remediation process in those units. Accord has also handed over a list of the errant factories to the BGMEA.
