Netherlands to help Bangladesh RMG sector become compliant

17 Jun '13

2 min read

Lilianne Ploumen, the visiting Netherlands’ Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, has assured her country’s full support to the Bangladesh readymade garment (RMG) sector in making it compliant on various parameters.

During her visit to Dhaka, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Trade and the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT).

As per the MoU, the Netherlands Government would provide assistance to the Bangladesh garment sector to ensure occupational safety and health, environmental management, corporate social responsibility, innovative leadership and good governance in clothing factories.

Speaking to media after signing the MoU, Mr. Muzaffar U Siddique, BUFT chairman, said the Netherlands has signed the MoU to extend technical expertise to achieve compliance and corporate social responsibility in Bangladesh’s apparel sector.

Ms. Ploumen said her country is ready to share knowledge and experience to improve conditions in the Bangladeshi RMG industry and hoped that the sector would progress smoothly and in a responsible manner from now onwards.

“It is time to improve the working conditions and all stakeholders including the textile sector, manufacturers, consumers and governments have to take responsibility to break the inhuman circle,” Ms. Ploumen said at a press conference.

The Minister said the Dutch Government is in talks with Denmark, Germany, Sweden, the UK and other EU countries to form a group to support improvement of workers’ rights and workplace safety in Bangladesh garment units.

In addition to stakeholders in Bangladesh, global apparel brands that source their garments from Bangladesh also have responsibility to ensure a decent wage and improve the labour condition in Bangladesh, she added.

In a joint statement issued at the press conference, Bangladesh Commerce Minister GM Quader and the Dutch Minister affirmed their collective determination to work together to improve the working condition for the Bangladeshi workers in the export-oriented garment industry.

“We look forward to full implementation of the tripartite agreement with the ILO and tripartite plan of action on fire safety and early commencement of the ILO Better Works Programme for improvement of health and occupational safety in the RMG sector,” the statement said.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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