Perspectives
- On January 5, BGMEA administrator Anwar Hossain and support committee member ANM Saifuddin met with ILO country director Tuomo Poutiainen at the BGMEA Complex.
- They talked about potential for cooperation and capacity building as well as important RMG industry concerns such environmental sustainability, worker rights, workplace safety, and labour legislation changes.
On January 5, Anwar Hossain, the administrator of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), met with Tuomo Poutiainen, the country director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), at the BGMEA Complex. ANM Saifuddin, a member of the BGMEA support committee, was also present during the meeting.
The conversations focused on important topics that have an impact on Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, such as environmental sustainability, worker rights, workplace safety, and changes to labour laws.
The continuing Better Work Bangladesh initiative, spearheaded by the ILO and aimed at improving working conditions and occupational safety in the RMG industry, received a lot of attention. Hossain and Poutiainen both emphasised the significance of consistent efforts to promote workplaces that are safer, more equitable, and more sustainable.
Future directions for ILO and BGMEA cooperation were also discussed at the conference. According to a news release from the BGMEA, they talked about conforming to global norms including the EU’s Due Diligence Directive, which mandates that businesses consider the effects on human rights and the environment across their supply chains.
Anwar Hossain emphasised the progress Bangladesh’s RMG sector has achieved in promoting environmental sustainability, protecting workers’ rights, and enhancing workplace safety. He reiterated the industry’s dedication to making more progress in these fields.
The members of the BGMEA suggested that the ILO look into starting initiatives to encourage social discourse and positive working relationships in the RMG industry. They called for cooperation in creating worker competencies in line with new developments in artificial intelligence and technology.