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Labour law reforms, timely wages in RMG sector urged

  • Bizbd Report
  • Update Time : 09:11:06 pm, Wednesday, 13 November 2024
  • 157

Swedish Ambassador to Dhaka Nicolas Weeks emphasised the need for Bangladesh to update its labour laws and ensure timely wage payments to promote a decent workplace in the readymade garment industry.

Despite Bangladesh’s upcoming graduation from least-developed country status, significant progress is still needed in the apparel sector.

Updating labour laws, regulations, and policies is essential to securing decent working conditions and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

‘More precisely, policy makers should provide supports to eliminate harassment, timely wage payment, among others, which is crucial at this moment,’ he said.

The foreign diplomat was speaking at a knowledge-sharing workshop titled ‘Productivity and Green Skills for the RMG Sector in Bangladesh,’ held on Wednesday at a hotel in Dhaka.

This workshop was organised to share the findings and outcomes of the Skills and Productivity component under the PROGRESS project.

Funded by the Embassy of Sweden and implemented by Swisscontact, PROGRESS began in October 2022 with the aim of fostering an inclusive, environmentally responsible, and competitive RMG sector.

Speaking at the event, the ambassador said that the PROGRESS project aligns well with Bangladesh’s aspirations to build a resilient economy.

‘By investing in green skills and empowering women, we are not only strengthening the workforce but also fostering a more equitable and sustainable society,’ he noted.

The envoy said that this initiative reflects a shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and underscores the belief that international cooperation is essential to achieving them.

Speaking at a panel discussion, Sheikh HM Mustafiz, Managing Director of Cute Dress Industry Ltd, emphasised the need for a functional and effective complaints mechanism to address labour issues promptly.

He said that, in the absence of a comprehensive grievance system with coordination across agencies, workers still resort to street protests to secure their wages.

Labour unrest is damaging the sector’s image, he said, adding that sustainability cannot be achieved without resolving these issues.

Mustafiz, however, called for deferring the LDC graduation process by at least five years, arguing that the indicators of progress toward the SDGs were based on inflated and manipulated data.

Maria Stridsman, Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden said investing in people and planet is essential to addressing global challenges such as climate change and inequality.

And the PROGRESS project aligns perfectly with these values, by focusing on skill development, productivity enhancement, and environmental sustainability in the garment industry.

She expected that the project would establish an important precedent by demonstrating practical solutions and successful business cases where investing in sustainability benefits not only environmental health but also the profitability of manufacturers.

Mujibul Cezanne Hasan, country director, Swisscontact Bangladesh in his opening remarks said through this project they aim to enhance green skills, improve productivity, and support the RMG sector in adopting sustainable production practices.

Rafiat Salman, Senior Manager of Skills & Productivity at PROGRESS, Swisscontact Bangladesh, presented an overview of the project.

Among others, speakers included Professor Mohammad Abdul Momen, Co-Founder and Director of Pride Group; Syeda Shaila Ashraf, Head of Corporate HR, Admin & IT at Renaissance Group; Sku Prodip Gabriel, Manager of Sustainability at H&M; and Rajesh Veda, CEO and Managing Director of Rajesh Veda Consulting.

Labour law reforms, timely wages in RMG sector urged

Update Time : 09:11:06 pm, Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Swedish Ambassador to Dhaka Nicolas Weeks emphasised the need for Bangladesh to update its labour laws and ensure timely wage payments to promote a decent workplace in the readymade garment industry.

Despite Bangladesh’s upcoming graduation from least-developed country status, significant progress is still needed in the apparel sector.

Updating labour laws, regulations, and policies is essential to securing decent working conditions and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

‘More precisely, policy makers should provide supports to eliminate harassment, timely wage payment, among others, which is crucial at this moment,’ he said.

The foreign diplomat was speaking at a knowledge-sharing workshop titled ‘Productivity and Green Skills for the RMG Sector in Bangladesh,’ held on Wednesday at a hotel in Dhaka.

This workshop was organised to share the findings and outcomes of the Skills and Productivity component under the PROGRESS project.

Funded by the Embassy of Sweden and implemented by Swisscontact, PROGRESS began in October 2022 with the aim of fostering an inclusive, environmentally responsible, and competitive RMG sector.

Speaking at the event, the ambassador said that the PROGRESS project aligns well with Bangladesh’s aspirations to build a resilient economy.

‘By investing in green skills and empowering women, we are not only strengthening the workforce but also fostering a more equitable and sustainable society,’ he noted.

The envoy said that this initiative reflects a shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and underscores the belief that international cooperation is essential to achieving them.

Speaking at a panel discussion, Sheikh HM Mustafiz, Managing Director of Cute Dress Industry Ltd, emphasised the need for a functional and effective complaints mechanism to address labour issues promptly.

He said that, in the absence of a comprehensive grievance system with coordination across agencies, workers still resort to street protests to secure their wages.

Labour unrest is damaging the sector’s image, he said, adding that sustainability cannot be achieved without resolving these issues.

Mustafiz, however, called for deferring the LDC graduation process by at least five years, arguing that the indicators of progress toward the SDGs were based on inflated and manipulated data.

Maria Stridsman, Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden said investing in people and planet is essential to addressing global challenges such as climate change and inequality.

And the PROGRESS project aligns perfectly with these values, by focusing on skill development, productivity enhancement, and environmental sustainability in the garment industry.

She expected that the project would establish an important precedent by demonstrating practical solutions and successful business cases where investing in sustainability benefits not only environmental health but also the profitability of manufacturers.

Mujibul Cezanne Hasan, country director, Swisscontact Bangladesh in his opening remarks said through this project they aim to enhance green skills, improve productivity, and support the RMG sector in adopting sustainable production practices.

Rafiat Salman, Senior Manager of Skills & Productivity at PROGRESS, Swisscontact Bangladesh, presented an overview of the project.

Among others, speakers included Professor Mohammad Abdul Momen, Co-Founder and Director of Pride Group; Syeda Shaila Ashraf, Head of Corporate HR, Admin & IT at Renaissance Group; Sku Prodip Gabriel, Manager of Sustainability at H&M; and Rajesh Veda, CEO and Managing Director of Rajesh Veda Consulting.