Two major trade bodies of Bangladesh’s textile and apparel sector have made complaints with the labour ministry against the Accord Bangladesh for violation of rules of business and conducting activities beyond its jurisdiction that, they trade bodies claimed, may provoke labour unrest. During a meeting with labour Secretary Mikael Shipper at his office on Monday, representatives of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) alleged that the field representatives appointed by Accord are trying to motivate the workers to forming trade unions at factories, which is not their business. BGMEA vice president Shahidullah Azim and immediate-past BKMEA vice president Md Hatem led their respective delegations at the meeting, sources said. Insiders said a BKMEA leader informed the meeting that local people recently apprehended a field representative of Accord who was trying to influencing the workers of a knit factory in Narayanganj to form a trade union at the factory. Later, an owner rushed to the spot and saved the accord employee from locals’ grievance. They factory owners also argued that a field representative of Accord is an outsider and he/she has no rights to motivate the workers to form trade unions. It is the very rights of the workers to form trade unions at the factories they work at and the owners are flexible about this issue as part of the collective efforts of the government, the ILO, entrepreneurs, civil society members and two platforms of buyers— Accord and Alliance—to improve the compliance standards in the apparel sector. “Yes, we have discussed the issue at the meeting in presence of an Accord high official. Labour secretary inquired him (Accord official) about the matter and asked him to be refrained from such activities,” Shahidullah Azim told this correspondent over cell phone Tuesday evening. “We have seen instances that outsiders were provoking labour unrest with specific assignment to serve the enemies Bangladesh’s apparel industry. We do not want to let them to do it again”,” he said. He said the labour rules is being finalised under the Labour Act 2006 and all these issued will be incorporated in the new law. He said the Accord’s business here is to help implementing the compliance standards as per the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh and its rules of business. Contacted for comment, State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Huq Chunnu firmly said Accord will not be allowed to do anything here beyond its jurisdiction. “We have our own labour law, rules of business and initiatives to ensure workers’ rights. Besides, we have bonds with buyers, the ILO, international rights bodies and renowned retailers. We are heading to build a safe industry. So, we will not allow any anti-industry element,” the state minister said. Following the Rana Plaza collapse, two platforms of brands and retailers — Accord and Alliance — commenced operations separately in 2013 to improve workers safety by overhauling and upgradation of factory safety measures and providing training to employees and workers to fight fire and other disasters like building collapse. Two industrial disasters— Tazreen Garment fire and Rana Plaza collapse left some 1300 workers killed and hundreds others injured, triggering widespread concern home and over the safety of workers. Leading buyers then come forward with financial assistance and technical expertise to save the industry and workers from further disasters. The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (the Accord) was signed on May 15th 2013. It is a five-year independent, legally binding agreement between global brands and retailers and trade unions designed to build a safer apparel industry in Bangladesh. The agreement consists of six key components. The components aim to ensure a safe working environment in the Bangladeshi RMG industry, an independent inspection program supported by brands in which workers and trade unions are involved, public disclosure of all factories, inspection reports and corrective action plans (CAP), a commitment by signatory brands to ensure sufficient funds are available for remediation and to maintain sourcing relationships, democratically elected health and safety committees in all factories to identify and act on health and safety risks and worker empowerment through an extensive training program, complaints mechanism and right to refuse unsafe work.
