US envoy suggests actions for safer Bangladesh RMG units

20 May '13

2 min read

In view of the recent tragedies at readymade garment (RMG) manufacturing factories in Bangladesh, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena has suggested some immediate measures that need to be taken.

In his remarks at the ‘National Dialogue on the Savar Tragedy’, Mr. Mozena chalked out three major steps to be taken immediately to support the workers employed in hazardous environments at RMG units.

“Firstly, the RMG factory workers’ rights to freely organize (themselves) should be exercised to ensure there is never again a Tazreen or Rana Plaza,” the Ambassador said, according to a statement from the US Embassy in Dhaka.

According to him, the workers with a voice would not have gone into Rana Plaza factories, because they would not have been scared of losing their job. “They would be alive today had they had a voice,” the Ambassador said.

The US Ambassador added that the second major step should be related to fire safety in the RMG units of Bangladesh. “There needs to be a minimum standard of fire safety, based on the National Plan of Action, applied to all RMG factories with no exceptions.”

The final measure suggested by the envoy was on the architecture of the RMG units in Bangladesh. “The factories must be inspected by experts trained and recruited from institutes like Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). A unit of up to 200 experts would be needed and could be managed by the American Association of Bangladeshi Engineers and Architects.”

Mr. Mozena expressed hope that implementing his suggestions would enable transformation of the readymade garments and the knitwear sectors of Bangladesh.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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