CPD executive director Fahmida Khatun recently told a webinar that despite impressive growth shown during the post-Rana Plaza period, a number of social compliance issues still need to be addressed by the sector. CPD, in partnership with the Christian Aid in Bangladesh, recently organised the virtual dialogue on the issue.

The study on the state of the UNGPs in the RMG sector of the country identified areas of strengths and weaknesses in UNGP practices and has put forward a set of suggestions, the dialogue was told.

The study analysed the level of maturity on UNGPs of RMG enterprises on eight key indicators like policy commitment; governance and embedding; prioritisation of risks and identification of the salient human rights issues; stakeholder engagement; assessing human rights risks; integration and mitigation measures; tracking; and remedy and grievance mechanisms., according to a CPD press release.

Basic facilities for workers are yet to be available across the board in all factories. Disparity in human and labour standards in terms of size, membership and location of factories is well-noticed. Level of overall improvement is more evident in case of the large- and medium-sized factories compared to the small-sized ones.

Factories from Dhaka and Gazipur districts have performed better in most human rights aspects than factories from Chattogram and Narayanganj, the study found.

Moreover, enterprises that are membners of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association were found in a better state than those under the membership of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)