Accord, a western buyers' platform working to improve workplace safety in the country’s readymade garment sector, has got conditional extension to continue its ongoing safety activities from next month.
The new Accord titled ‘2018 Transition Accord’ would continue its work until a competent national body is ready to take over its responsibility.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said the government approved the extension for next six months and expected that remediation coordination cell, formed to take over the platform’s responsibility, would be fully ready within this time.
“This week, the government of Bangladesh confirmed it will extend the permission of the Accord to work beyond May 2018,” Accord steering committee member Adward David Southall said while addressing a joint press conference organised by BGMEA and Accord at the trade body’s headquarters in the city on Thursday.
The joint Transition Monitoring Committee (TMC) comprised of Accord brands, global trade unions, BGMEA, ILO and the Bangladesh government, met on May 6 last and determined that the criteria agreed by the Accord and the BGMEA and recognised by the government of Bangladesh have not yet been met, he added.
The criteria included demonstrated proficiency in inspection capacity, remediation of hazards, enforcement of law against non-compliant factories, full transparency of governance and remediation progress and investigation and fair resolution of workers’ safety complaints.
The Accord is pleased that the BGMEA supports the start of the 2018 Transition Accord on the 1st of June and to continue until these criteria are met, he added.
