Dhaka: The risk ratio in factories in the RMG sector is now less than two percent because of government’s continuous efforts to protect labour rights, ensure their safety and security in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) as well as knitwear factories.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said this after coming out of a meeting with a four-member European Union (EU) parliamentary team led by Jean Lambert in his secretariat office on Wednesday.

Describing this success a remarkable one, the minister also said,’ We have managed to make the risk ratio in factory less than two percent, which is two percent plus allowed internationally in the factories.’

‘The success came as we have appointed labour inspector, allowed trade union in the factories to protect the rights of labour and ensured safety and security measures aimed at improving working environment in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) policy,’ he said.

‘Inspection to 3,800 factories has already been completed. Only 37 factories have been closed down considering risk factors,’ he added.

The government has also put focus on establishing green RMG factories to protect ecological balance of the country as well as the world, Tofail said, adding that ‘Some RMG factories have already been turned into green factories while 70 such factories are in the pipe line.’

During the meeting, they discussed various issues including making an update on sustainability compact, the ongoing environment for investment and formation of a Bangladesh-EU joint business council.

Tofail said Bangladesh-EU business council would be launched in shortest period of to boost further the country’s trade links with EU countries.

‘The business council will be comprised of ambassadors of eight EU countries in Bangladesh and the local ministries involved in trade and commerce,’ he added.

The inclusion of the business bodies in the council will be decided after holding talks with the EU, he also said.

The proposed council will mainly work for removing tariff and non-tariff barriers for products of Bangladesh in the EU markets and increasing European investments in Bangladesh’s various sectors like telecommunication and refinery, he added.

He called upon the EU investors to invest in the special economic zones in Bangladesh and the government is determined to provide all sorts of assistances to this end.

Welcoming the proposal of forming the EU Bangladesh business council, EU team leader Jean Lambert said the council would help increase and deepen the trade ties between EU nations and Dhaka.

EU team members are Richard Howitt, Ivan Stefanec and Dr Sajjad Karim, EU ambassador in Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon, Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, among others, were present at the press conference.