Inspections find 80pc RMG factories safe

The work environments, structures and aspects of fire and electrical safety of the readymade garments (RMG) industry of the country are 80 per cent “safe”, according to an inspection survey conducted by the Bangladesh government.  
The Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishments (DIFE) has completed its inspections to assess the export-oriented RMG factories for structural, fire and electrical safety aspects, and the emphasis will now switch to remediation.
DIFE announced this at a press briefing at its office in Karwan Bazar in the city yesterday. DIFE conducted the study in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) over the past two years.
By the deadline of 31 October 2015—by which assessments were supposed to have been carried out—assessments of 1,475 RMG factories had been conducted through governmental efforts, supported by the ILO, with the backing of Canada, the Netherlands and the UK.
Some 1,475 RMG factories have been inspected through government efforts supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with the backing of Canada, the Netherlands and United Kingdom.
Apart from the government inspection, 2,185 factories have been inspected by the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.
Speaking at the briefing, Syed Ahmed, inspector general (additional secretary) of the DIFE, said, “Following Rana Plaza tragedy, commitments were made to assess the structural integrity of all active export-oriented RMG factories to identify those having a high risk of collapse.”
“Virtually, all have now been inspected, and 37 of them closed. This will help avoid potential loss of lives. We will now turn our full attention to the challenge of remediation and of ensuring a safer RMG sector for all who work in it,” he added.
He said: “Eighty per cent of the factories are safe. Six factories have been closed as they are unsafe.”
According to the report, a number of significant actions has been taken to underpin the inspection process under the national initiative. These include the harmonisation of inspection standards, the establishment of a review panel to assess factories identified as dangerous, and capacity building for, as well as enhanced collaboration between, the labour inspectorate and fire services staff, who will follow up on inspection reports.
DIFE inspectors have been trained on how to support factories to develop corrective action plans, with a pilot initiative taking place to help the first batch of factories to do so.
Guidelines for Detailed Engineering Assessments are being developed, while transparency has been enhanced by conducting 1,778 inspections, the report added. Considerable progress has been made to develop more accurate lists of RMG factories that are operational, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), while a study on remediation financing, jointly launched by the ILO and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is also going on.
“Carrying out these inspections is a significant milestone, yet it is only the beginning. Our full attention must now turn to remediation. ILO will help build the capacity of the Bangladesh authorities to put in place an effective system for all remediation and regulatory oversight, once the support of partners ends,” said ILO Bangladesh country director Srinivas Reddy.
“We appeal to employers’ organisations to actively work with factory management to produce corrective action plans for remediation. This is in the best interests of worker safety, and will also give confidence to the buyer community,” he added.

Inspections find 80pc RMG factories safe

The work environments, structures and aspects of fire and electrical safety of the readymade garments (RMG) industry of the country are 80 per cent safe, according to an inspection survey conducted by the Bangladesh government. The Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishments (DIFE) has completed its inspections to assess the export-oriented RMG factories for structural, fire and electrical safety aspects, and the emphasis will now switch to remediation. DIFE announced this at a press briefing at its office in Karwan Bazar in the city yesterday. DIFE conducted the study in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) over the past two years. By the deadline of 31 October 2015by which assessments were supposed to have been carried outassessments of 1,475 RMG factories had been conducted through governmental efforts, supported by the ILO, with the backing of Canada, the Netherlands and the UK. Some 1,475 RMG factories have been inspected through government efforts supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with the backing of Canada, the Netherlands and United Kingdom. Apart from the government inspection, 2,185 factories have been inspected by the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. Speaking at the briefing, Syed Ahmed, inspector general (additional secretary) of the DIFE, said, Following Rana Plaza tragedy, commitments were made to assess the structural integrity of all active export-oriented RMG factories to identify those having a high risk of collapse. Virtually, all have now been inspected, and 37 of them closed. This will help avoid potential loss of lives. We will now turn our full attention to the challenge of remediation and of ensuring a safer RMG sector for all who work in it, he added. He said: Eighty per cent of the factories are safe. Six factories have been closed as they are unsafe. According to the report, a number of significant actions has been taken to underpin the inspection process under the national initiative. These include the harmonisation of inspection standards, the establishment of a review panel to assess factories identified as dangerous, and capacity building for, as well as enhanced collaboration between, the labour inspectorate and fire services staff, who will follow up on inspection reports. DIFE inspectors have been trained on how to support factories to develop corrective action plans, with a pilot initiative taking place to help the first batch of factories to do so. Guidelines for Detailed Engineering Assessments are being developed, while transparency has been enhanced by conducting 1,778 inspections, the report added. Considerable progress has been made to develop more accurate lists of RMG factories that are operational, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), while a study on remediation financing, jointly launched by the ILO and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is also going on. Carrying out these inspections is a significant milestone, yet it is only the beginning. Our full attention must now turn to remediation. ILO will help build the capacity of the Bangladesh authorities to put in place an effective system for all remediation and regulatory oversight, once the support of partners ends, said ILO Bangladesh country director Srinivas Reddy. We appeal to employers organisations to actively work with factory management to produce corrective action plans for remediation. This is in the best interests of worker safety, and will also give confidence to the buyer community, he added.