Unilever, BGMEA sign MoU to improve livelihoods of workers

20 Dec '19

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

Unilever Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to start an initiative, named ‘Aastha’ (meaning trust),to work together on a number of sustainable development goals (SDGs) to improve the livelihoods of a million apparel workers, the latter said in a statement.

Kedar Lele, chief executive officer and managing director of Unilever Bangladesh, and BGMEA president Rubana Huqsigned the MoU.

Through the partnership, Unilever, the largest fast moving consumer goods company in Bangladesh, intends to bring its brands’ purpose to life while doing genuine good for the society.

The partnership will be the first-ever sectoral approach to fast-tracking SDG progress in Bangladesh. It aims to positively impact more than 1 million workers and enhance their overall health and well-being, said the statement.

Four SDGs and six national performance indicators have been identified as the key focus areas of the partnership. Those are: SDG 3 (Ensure good health and promote well-being for all at all ages); SDG 6 (Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all); SDG 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns); and SDG 17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development).

In addition, Unilever Bangladesh will make its products available inside factory premises at special prices exclusively for the workers. Unilever Bangladesh also signed independent MoUs with garment factories to improve livelihoods of their workers through different initiatives.

The factories are Newage Apparels, Fakir Fashion, AR Jeans Producer, Reza Fashions, Fakhruddin Textile Mills, Laila Styles, Dekko Accessories, Ecofab Ltd, Dekko Readywears, Dekko Garments, Dekko Globus Fashion, Agami Fashion, Esquire Knit Composite, Meghna Knit Composite, Sublime Greentex, Executive Hi-Fashion, Renaissance Apparels, and Southern Garments Ltd.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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