ILO Global Business Forum Highlights the Importance of a Sustainability Vision for Bangladesh’s RMG Sector

Representatives from the world’s largest retails brands met with leading figures from the country’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector at the Annual Bangladesh Business Forum in Dhaka last Wednesday, 2 October 2019.

Over 350 garment-sector representatives from the government, employers’ and workers’ organisations, development partners, global brands and retailers, manufacturers, civil society and academia came together at a high-level event in Dhaka.

Staff reporter: Under the theme ‘Driving Sustainable Change’, the forum was organised by the Better Work Bangladesh (BWB) programme, a joint collaboration between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Today, Bangladesh’s $34 billion a year garment export industry is the second largest in the world (behind China) with more than 4,500 factories, employing over four million workers.

Discussions centred on the need for a globally competitive garment industry supported by improved labour market governance, effective social dialogue and responsible sourcing practices to ensure decent work and generate long-term prosperity for the industry. A number of speakers also highlighted ongoing issues facing the industry, including how BWB and its brand partners can continue to address gender and OSH non-compliances.

Over 350 RMG stakeholders, including representatives from the government, employers’ and workers’ organisations, development partners, global brands and retailers, manufacturers, civil society and academia attended the high-level event.