BGMEA RSC at loggerheads over monitoring of labour rights issues
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The apparel apex body — BGMEA — on Sunday asked its members to refrain from adhering to the requirements of the non-safety-related complaint mechanism proposed by the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC).
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), in a circular, said it has come to their attention that the Managing Director of the RMG Sustainability Council has recently circulated a letter to factories concerning a non-OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) complaints mechanism.
“...We kindly request all member factories not to respond to any communications, letters, or circulars from the RSC related to the non-OSH complaints mechanism,” the circular read.
The trade body said the matter is currently under review, and the BGMEA management is in close communication with the RSC to clarify its position through constructive dialogue.
A final position on this issue will be communicated after discussion in the upcoming RSC Board Meeting, it added, urging its members not to comply with the non-OSH complaint mechanism for now.
This will help ensure a consistent and coordinated approach aligned with BGMEA’s policies and guidance, it noted.
Earlier, the RSC — which took over the functions of the Accord — informed its listed garment factories through a letter that, from November 16, it will expand its complaints mechanism beyond OSH to cover a wide range of workplace-related issues, especially labour rights, in two phases.
The expanded Comprehensive Complaints Mechanism (CCM) will now cover issues such as unfair employment contracts and separations, wages, benefits, leave, freedom of association and collective bargaining, child labour, forced labour, and other issues related to discrimination in garment factories.
Initially, the first phase of the expanded mechanism, to run for six months, will include 58 brands and 1,185 factories to establish the foundation for full implementation.
In the second phase, the remaining brands and factories will be incorporated, according to the RSC letter.
munni_fe@yahoo.com