The International Labour Organization (ILO) has partnered with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BKMEA) to launch a virtual training package aimed at preparing and maintaining safer working conditions for garment workers in the South Asian country both during and post-pandemic.
Developed by the ILO, the new ‘Learning Hub’ addresses Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) sector and will offer training to BGMEA and BKMEA-nominated ‘master trainers’ on how to better protect and monitor workers and working conditions during Covid-19.
As more and more workers return to work, the one-stop virtual platform will focus on three core areas: raising coronavirus prevention awareness among workers and factory management; ensuring Covid-19 Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) preparedness guidelines are being followed, and continuing to promote strong social dialogue in the workplace.
It has been made possible through US$750,000 of financial support from Sweden and Denmark. An additional $250,000 has been contributed by several existing ILO funding partners, namely Australia, Canada, the European Union (EU), Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, US Department of Labor (USDOL) and the Department for International Development (UK Aid).
The first phase of the one-year initiative – which will run from July 2020 to June 2021 – will start with the virtual training of 150 BGMEA and BKMEA-nominated ‘master trainers’ followed by a ‘training of the trainers’ rollout. Once the current situation permits, the safety training sessions will be physically rolled out to BGMEA and BKMEA factories.
The ILO will also offer the same package of Covid-19 safety training for ‘master trainers’ from the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF) as well as the Government (MoLE, DoL, IRI and DIFE) and leading workers’ organisations (Workers Resource Centre (WRC), National Coordination Committee for Worker’s Education (NCCWE) and IndustriAll Bangladesh Council (IBC).
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By GlobalData“Our joint response is focused on providing best practices to RMG factories to support a safe and stable return for their workers,” says Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO country director. “The ILO is also working with other sectors, as well as the Government and workers’ representatives to ensure that this critical and timely information reaches as many workers as possible.”
The news has been welcomed by both the BGMEA and BKMEA, with BGMEA president, Dr Rubana Huq noting the joint industry response between the employers’ and the ILO sets a “significant landmark in our efforts to protect workers’ lives and livelihoods.”
“The BGMEA is wholly committed to facilitating and scaling up this project and applauds the ILO for steering this timely and important initiative,” she says.
BKMEA vice-president, Mohammad Hatem, adds: “The safety of our workers and supervisors is the utmost priority during this pandemic. I hope the virtual trainings will be an effective tool to enhance the capacity of the trainees and help the RMG industry overcome the ongoing crisis.”
