The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Representatives of the western buyers and leaders of the Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) are of the opinion that the lack of mutual understanding between the two parties was impeding the implementation of social compliance in Bangladeshi Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector.

"Western buyers set complaints standard according to their consumers demand and requirement, which conflict with our local tradition and customs," said Alamgir M. Z. Rahman, Director of BGMEA and MD Consumer Products Limited. According to him, this conceptual conflict is ultimately injuring both the producers and western consumers.

Supporting the BGMEA Director's observation, Jenifar Jabbar, Consultant of BGMEA and UNDP proposed to introduce country specific code of conduct for the RMG sector. "Some requirements that our western buyers demand are contradictory and are not suitable for our society. Specific list of demands should be framed for each country, taking consideration into local traditions, customs and values," she said.

Responding to the manufacturers' proposal, Viveka R. the Code of Conduct Manager for HNM said, the level of understanding is yet to develop. "It is reality that the level of understanding between buyers and manufacturers at the grassroots levels is yet to be developed," she said.

However, she conceptually praised BGMEA proposal of country specific RMG sector requirements and vowed to consider through proper channel.

They were addressing a roundtable discussion yesterday on CSR Guidelines focused on Women Workers in the RMG Sectors, organised by the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI).

Five points were raised on the occasion, related to the Women labours in RMG sector. According to Iftekhar Ahmed, Project Director of BIE, female workers in our RMG sector are harassed in five basic aspects.

Frequent physical and sexual harassments at work, non availability of maternity and other leave benefits, unfriendly health, safety and working environment, lack of awareness related to the workers rights and absence of provident funds and post-retirement benefits are the exploitative aspects with the female labours, he pointed in his presentation.

However, necessary steps were asked to be taken to eradicate all these social and occupational hazards for women RMG workers in the society.