Bangladesh committed to labour rights, workplace safety: PM
Davos, Switzerland: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the government is committed to ensuring compliance with regard to labour rights, workplace safety and environmental standard in Bangladesh’s apparel and textile industry as its contribution to the country’s economy is immense.
"The contribution of apparel and textile industry to our economy is immense. We’re highly committed to ensuring compliance with regard to labour rights, workplace safety and environmental standard in the industry," she said.
The Prime Minister was responding to a query from the moderator, Andrew Steer, of a workshop titled 'Shaping a New Water Economy' held at the Congress Center, Casanna during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos.
Andrew Steer, president and CEO of Water Resources Institute, said the textile industry is aspiring to grow from a $28 to a $50 billion one in Bangladesh by 2021 and to make it happen, compliance for wastewater treatment and water use efficiency needs to be increased.
In response to his question "What are you doing with 2030 WRG to help tackle this enormous challenge?” Hasina said Bangladesh is the 2nd largest apparel and textile exporting country in the world. The sector employs 4.5 million workers, of which 80 percent are women. The industry accounts for 83 percent of the country's total exports.
She said the industry in recent years has achieved higher compliance standards in terms of wages, workplace safety, norms, practices and harmonious industrial relations.
"There has been a 77 percent increase in basic wage. The assessment of all the 3780 factories as recommended by global brands and retailers has been completed. The factories are now working hand in hand with global brands and retailers to ensure international standards. Every factory has an Occupational Safety Committee where employers and workers are working together," she added.
Hasina said the setting up of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) has been made mandatory by the government before establishing any industry while measures have also been taken to set up ETPs in big housing projects.
She said her government has been supporting the industry to 'go green'. Today, Bangladesh has LEED certified 38 factories. Out of the world's top ranked 10 green factories, seven are in Bangladesh, she said.
She said since 2015, the Bangladesh government has been working with 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG). More specifically, Bangladesh aims to achieve cent percent wastewater treatment and increase water use efficiency as per international benchmarks in the apparel sector.
The Prime Minister said the work of her government with 2030 WRG is focusing on mobilising and facilitating large-scale finance for wastewater treatment infrastructure; enhancing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for wastewater treatment, recycling and efficient use, establishing a valuation methodology for water use across Bangladesh; improving institutional setup for water resources management; and increasing private sector and civil society participation in water governance.
She also said, "As a member of the High-Level Panel on Water, I’m committed towards innovative frameworks like 2030 WRG."
Hasina said the waste management is not a big problem in Bangladesh as there is plenty of water in the rainy season.
But, to preserve the water, Hasina said, her government has been continuing efforts while countrywide river dredging and excavation works are also being carried out to maintain the usual flow of the rivers.
Noting that Bangladesh has almost attained cent percent safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, the Prime Minister also informed the audience that efforts are on so that no one is left out from having such facilities.
She said to make the country's agriculture sector sustainable, drought-tolerant and salinity-resistant varieties of crops are being invented while different varieties of vegetables requiring lesser water are also innovated in the country.
The 2030 Water Resources Group was formed in 2008 to contribute new insights to the increasingly critical issue of water resource scarcity. Members include McKinsey & Company, the World Bank Group, and a consortium of business partners: The Barilla Group, The Coca Cola Company, Nestlé SA, New Holland Agriculture, SAB Miller PLC, Standard Chartered and Syngenta AG.