The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) as part of social compliance audited 1,381 member factories out of 2,435 to support the overall monitoring activities of organisation.

The audit was carried out in collaboration with IFC Advisory Services for South Asia-South Asia Enterprise Development Facility (IFC-SEDF) as of August 19 this year, a press release said.

Based on a questionnaire developed by the BGMEA and IFC- SEDF, the factories have been monitored by 12 BGMEA compliance officers.

This monitoring data is now being stored in database software. This software will allow BGMEA to efficiently evaluate and assess the compliance standard of the garment industry and take actions for further improvement. This is the first comprehensive approach to evaluate the social compliance scenario of the industry.

BGMEA will also provide some specific recommendations for those factories that need further improvement and periodically monitor the progress.

IFC-SEDF and BGMEA signed a MoU on June 17 this year under which IFC-SEDF would assist BGMEA in designing and implementing industry-wide audit of social compliance in the garment sector.