Interviews
RMG sector pleads for a ethical buying practice
02 Jul '08
2 min read
In a bid to make the readymade garment (RMG) sector of Bangladesh more competitive in the global market, domestic exporters urged foreign buyers to follow a more ethical buying practice.
A two day Multi-stakeholders Forum - Bangladesh (MFB) was held in Dhaka from June 28 to 29 which kick started with the slogan 'Building Responsible Competitiveness: Bangladesh in the Global Market Place'.
Official sources from Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers Association (BKMEA) confirmed Fibre2fashion, “Joint meeting between MFB and Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA, a UK based organization) resulted in round table talks, working group discussion on purchasing practices, updates on current labor situation, and working group discussion on macro economic factors which are affecting the Bangladeshi RMG. Besides, Mr Paul Dearman, trading law and technical manager of Tesco, a leading buyer acted as one of the key participants of the program.”
Additionally, the source also divulged that MFB is working since 2007 for developing ethical buying practices, productivity improvement, and social compliance in the RMG sector of Bangladesh.
Mr Fazlul Hoque, President of BKMEA chaired the MFB forum and stated during a press conference after the first day session that recurrent cuts in garment making charges by international buyers is eroding the profitability of the entrepreneurs. He also asserted that the association wanted an increase in prices from the buyers end, not only for their profits but also for the benefit of the workers.
A detailed study of the previous year shows that despite an increase in the production cost of around 15 percent, producers failed to pass on the higher costs to the buyer because of stiff international competition. In fact, unit garment prices have fallen by about 1.5 percent in the past one year.
It is hoped that the forum came up with viable solution to the ongoing problem faced by the RMG sector because unless the trading practices are just, one of the two countries would always be on the losing side.
A two day Multi-stakeholders Forum - Bangladesh (MFB) was held in Dhaka from June 28 to 29 which kick started with the slogan 'Building Responsible Competitiveness: Bangladesh in the Global Market Place'.
Official sources from Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers Association (BKMEA) confirmed Fibre2fashion, “Joint meeting between MFB and Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA, a UK based organization) resulted in round table talks, working group discussion on purchasing practices, updates on current labor situation, and working group discussion on macro economic factors which are affecting the Bangladeshi RMG. Besides, Mr Paul Dearman, trading law and technical manager of Tesco, a leading buyer acted as one of the key participants of the program.”
Additionally, the source also divulged that MFB is working since 2007 for developing ethical buying practices, productivity improvement, and social compliance in the RMG sector of Bangladesh.
Mr Fazlul Hoque, President of BKMEA chaired the MFB forum and stated during a press conference after the first day session that recurrent cuts in garment making charges by international buyers is eroding the profitability of the entrepreneurs. He also asserted that the association wanted an increase in prices from the buyers end, not only for their profits but also for the benefit of the workers.
A detailed study of the previous year shows that despite an increase in the production cost of around 15 percent, producers failed to pass on the higher costs to the buyer because of stiff international competition. In fact, unit garment prices have fallen by about 1.5 percent in the past one year.
It is hoped that the forum came up with viable solution to the ongoing problem faced by the RMG sector because unless the trading practices are just, one of the two countries would always be on the losing side.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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