BGMEA president reiterates the country’s commitment to upholding its workplace safety standards, while remaining one of the industry’s preferred sourcing destinations. Credit: Shutterstock.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Faruque Hassan has reiterated the country’s commitment to upholding its workplace safety standards, while remaining one of the industry’s preferred apparel sourcing destinations.

In comments made at a RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) event in Dhaka, held to welcome 19 new independent factories into the group, Hassan said that safety was an essential part of business in the country’s apparel market.

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The RSC monitors safety in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector and aims to sustain a “safe, humane and sustainable” apparel industry in the country.

Hassan said: “The massive transformation over the last decade has resulted in a culture of safety in the RMG sector where entrepreneurs and workers are more aware of workplace safety than ever before. The industry views workplace safety as an integral part of the business.”

The BGMEA president also thanked the RSC for enlisting the 19 new independent factories without requiring a brand nomination. He said this would pave the way for more independent apparel factories to join the initiative.

Previously, garment factories were only able to join the RSC after being nominated by a brand. Under new rules, any export-focused members of the BGMEA and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufactures and Exporters will be able to join with a nomination from the BGMEA.

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The news comes shortly after Hassan said fashion brands were increasingly favouring Bangladesh. The BGMEA president reportedly said: “The industry’s efforts are paying off as the ‘Made in Bangladesh’ brand is getting more popular among brands and retailers. It is evident in the recently published report where US fashion companies rated Bangladesh highly as the topmost competitive country in terms of product prices among the world’s apparel-manufacturing countries.”

In March, BGMEA and German development cooperation agency GIZ partnered on a project aimed at strengthening human rights and environmental due diligence in Bangladesh’s RMG sector.

Earlier this month the BGMEA signed a memorandum of understanding with NGO Solidaridad Network Asian with the aim of combining efforts to create a sustainable apparel sector.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) also wrote to the Bangladesh Prime Minister calling on the government to hold accountable those responsible for the murder of union leader Shahidul Islam and to address its concerns over garment workers’ welfare.