BGMEA moves to form separate platform

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has initiated a move to form a separate platform to look into the post-2018 safety activities in the country's ready-made garment sector, industry insiders said.  

The platform to be administered by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has been planned to take on charge and responsibility of the western retailers platforms-Accord and Alliance-whose tenure will expire in mid-2018, they added.

The BGMEA has drafted a structure of the platform and has already informally discussed the issue with top government authorities while it also apprised some of the top global buyers including H&M of the matter, they said.

Both the government and the buyers have in principle agreed with their proposal, they said, adding that the issue will also be discussed with the BGMEA's members in a meeting to be held today (Sunday).

When asked, BGMEA vice president Mahmud Hasan Khan said, "Buyers want a transparent, credible and trusted body and we have drafted a structure for a separate platform taking their opinion into consideration."

The BGMEA members in the meeting will want to know about the trade body's plan, he said, adding that the meeting has been convened to seek members' opinions about the Accord's extension and the next course of actions.

According to the draft, the platform namely 'Shonman' would be constituted with representatives from commerce and labour ministries, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE)/National Action Plan, International Labour Organization (ILO), trade unions, brands and buyers and BGMEA.

All decisions would be taken unanimously, people involved with the process said, adding that the draft has proposed that the PMO choose an ombudsman to ensure transparency in the process and address any corruption, negligence or biasness, if any.

The move came following a recent agreement between global trade unions and apparel brands and buyers, signatories of Accord, to extend the platform's activities in the country for three more years.

Apparel makers opposed the extension move terming it 'unilateral decision' which is also planning to look into the labour rights issues especially promoting freedom of association.

The BGMEA recently discussed its proposal with Alliance, another platform mainly based on North American apparel companies, sources said.

Alliance officials said they have no plan to extend its activities rather it might take few months as transition period to end its existing activities.

Alliance is ready to hand over its post-2018 safety monitoring and other required activities to a competent, credible and independent body, they added.   

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