Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday 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, UNB reports.
"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, Switzerland.
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.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina along with other global leaders gathered in Davor yesterday as the 47th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The four-day meeting began at Congress Centre in Davos, a mountain resort at Graubünden in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland, under the theme ‘Responsive and Responsible Leadership’.
On the sidelines of the forum, Sheikh Hasina had also informal interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Swiss President Doris Leuthard.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the opening plenary and other events of the meeting along with other heads of government and state. Before the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum, WEF Executive Chairman Prof Klaus Schwann called on Sheikh Hasina.
The WEF executive chairman invited the Prime Minister to attend the Forum. She is the first elected Bangladeshi leader to attend the high profile annual global meeting that draws statesmen, top business leaders and the intelligentsia to discuss crucial global issues.