Nearly a dozen garment factories are allegedly operating defying the official review panel’s directive regarding their remediation work due to poor monitoring and enforcement, insiders said. Although more than one year has passed since five out of 11 were asked to carry out the required remedial work, including detailed engineering assessment (DEA), they have not yet improved their safety, putting workers’ lives in peril, they added. The panel’s directives, among others, included closure, retrofit, removal of columns, demolition of space beyond permit, they added. The National Tripartite Committee (NTC) on Plan of Action on Building and Fire Safety in the readymade garment sector formed the review panel, headed by the DIFE Inspector General, in November 2013. The objective was to decide on shutdown of any garment factory, if found risky or non-compliant during inspection by any of the three initiatives-Accord, Alliance and the government-ILO joint move. Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety-the North American apparel buyers’ group-brought the issue to the fore and sought intervention and co-operation from the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) in this regard. The group also raised the issue in the NTC’s meeting held last week, sources said. Talking to the FE, one of the owners of alleged factories, said, “As a factory owner, I was in big trouble because my unit is located in a rented building. Still, the building owner has agreed to comply with the required safety measures.” The six-storied building also houses an Accord-listed garment factory. “That’s why, we have reached a consensus following the two corrective action plans by Accord and Alliance,” the building owner said. Nearly 70 per cent of the work were done, while the DEA will be conducted within the next three months, the building owner said Another factory owner said currently he has no business with Alliance-signatory members. “But I will do the remediation,” he said, adding it requires both time and money. When asked, DIFE head Syed Ahmed confirmed that the authority had received a letter from the Alliance. “I have asked my officials to look into the issue and submit the report shortly,” he said, adding the DIFE will take necessary actions, including closure and legal action if they are unwilling to implement the panel recomendation. Regarding monitoring, he said four officials have been assigned in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chittagong in this regard, while 137 more will do the same under the NAP. When asked, Alliance Managing Director M Rabin said, “We expect the government to see the implementation of the recommendations of their review panel.” Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Md Siddiqur Rahman said they have already communicated with nine units and pressed them for carrying out the remediation work. “All must do the remediation,” he said. He, however, noted that small and medium units are finding it difficult to finance repair work. “They need fund,” he said.
