Garment sector much safer: US envoy
US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat yesterday said the government and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association must do a better job at marketing the dramatic improvements in the apparel sector.
She said the garment sector has come a long way since the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse.
“Bangladesh's garment sector is much safer,” said Bernicat, lauding garment manufacturers' efforts and costly remediation works.
“However, there is still a lot of work
to be done on raising the factory and building safety standard. We must continue our efforts to ensure remediated factories stay safe and that new workers are properly trained on safety practices,” she added.
The envoy spoke at a media briefing on the BGMEA-BUFT journalism fellowship study tour programme at the association's conference room in Dhaka.
Bernicat also urged the BGMEA and the government to come to a quick solution on the extensions of the Accord and the Alliance in Bangladesh.
She cautioned that delays in approving their extensions would send a negative signal to buyers and consumers that Bangladesh was not committed to workplace safety.
She thanked the BGMEA for proposing bringing significant reforms to the labour act and the EPZ labour law.
“Recent proposals that have been discussed are movements in the right direction, but I call on the BGMEA and the government of Bangladesh to do more to truly meet international standards, as recommended by the International Labour Organisation,” said Bernicat.
BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman highlighted the importance of capacity building of journalists covering apparel, saying proper journalism in the biggest export earning sector of Bangladesh would help the business flourish in the coming days.
The fellowship aims at increasing awareness about the significant improvements in Bangladesh's garments business.
Six fellows will leave Bangladesh on June 23 for the US on a weeklong study.
Muzaffar U Siddique, board of trustees at the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT), and Faruque Hassan, senior vice president of the BGMEA, were also present.