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.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

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.

See Also:

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.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

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.