Interviews
'Living wage compliance in B'desh a big challenge'
28 Apr '16
2 min read
Germany's Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Gerd Müller, who launched a Partnership for Sustainable Textiles in 2014 in order to help improve environmental and social standards along the entire textile value chain in Bangladesh, has said that ensuring living wages for workers remains a big challenge.
"A lot has happened over the past three years. We have already achieved major improvements since Rana Plaza, especially on structural and fire safety. Compliance with core labour standards and the payment of living wages continue to be big challenges in the textile sector. In our Textiles Partnership, we are working with the private sector and with civil society to address this," Müller said according to a press release of the Ministry.
With German support, more than 750 factory managers in Bangladesh have received advice on how to improve social and environmental standards and been given training on related issues. Some 100,000 women workers have been educated about their rights. Together with the International Labour Organization (ILO), Germany has provided training to 300 labour inspectors.
With assistance from Germany, Bangladesh is currently introducing an occupational accident insurance system. Government representatives and employer and employee representatives from the textile industry in Bangladesh are being given the opportunity to visit Germany to exchange ideas and get first-hand information on the ground about health and safety standards and accident prevention and about the organisation of committees of workers' representatives.
Putting in place the fundamental elements of social protection systems for workers is becoming a focus of the German Development Ministry's work with its partner countries, the release said.
The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles now has more than 180 members. As it covers more than 55 per cent of the German textile market, the Partnership already has gained enough influence to reach the mass market. (SH)
"A lot has happened over the past three years. We have already achieved major improvements since Rana Plaza, especially on structural and fire safety. Compliance with core labour standards and the payment of living wages continue to be big challenges in the textile sector. In our Textiles Partnership, we are working with the private sector and with civil society to address this," Müller said according to a press release of the Ministry.
With German support, more than 750 factory managers in Bangladesh have received advice on how to improve social and environmental standards and been given training on related issues. Some 100,000 women workers have been educated about their rights. Together with the International Labour Organization (ILO), Germany has provided training to 300 labour inspectors.
With assistance from Germany, Bangladesh is currently introducing an occupational accident insurance system. Government representatives and employer and employee representatives from the textile industry in Bangladesh are being given the opportunity to visit Germany to exchange ideas and get first-hand information on the ground about health and safety standards and accident prevention and about the organisation of committees of workers' representatives.
Putting in place the fundamental elements of social protection systems for workers is becoming a focus of the German Development Ministry's work with its partner countries, the release said.
The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles now has more than 180 members. As it covers more than 55 per cent of the German textile market, the Partnership already has gained enough influence to reach the mass market. (SH)
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