The participants pose for photograph during a programme titled “Inclusion Matters: Looking Towards 2021,” organised by the Inclusive Skills Development (ISD) – a component of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in the capital recently. Speakers at a programme called upon all for taking actions to create work and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in public and private sectors. Referring to the “Bangladesh Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act” 2013”, they urged the owners of the readymade garments (RMG) factories to include skilled workers with disabilities in the mainstream workforce. They were speaking at an event titled “Inclusion Matters: Looking Towards 2021,” organised by the Inclusive Skills Development (ISD) – a component of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, recently. GIZ works on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” is globally celebrated on December 3 and this year’s theme is “Inclusion Matters: Access and Empowerment of People of all Abilities”. The prime objective of this event was to inaugurate “Champions of Inclusion”- a platform of RMG factory owners to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the mainstream workforce. GIZ has organised this event in cooperation with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) and the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP). During this event, the RMG factory owners were sensitized on national policies and international standards governing the economic inclusion of persons with disabilities through presenting success stories of workers with disabilities. There was also a discussion session, where Khorshed Alam, Chief Executive Officer of NSDC, and Syed Ahmed, Inspector General (Additional Secretary), Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) along with RMG workers with disabilities and owners of RMG factories took part. It was discussed in the session that equal access to dignified employment for persons with disabilities is currently being promoted by several national and international policies and documents. In collaboration with Government of Bangladesh, NGO partners and private sector, the primary objective of the ISD component is including persons with disabilities in the mainstream workforce of Bangladesh’s RMG industry by providing disability inclusive skills training, ensuring sustainable employment and promoting equal opportunities for all. The Government of Bangladesh has already signed and ratified the “UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)” in 2007. Article 27 of the convention suggests the parties recognise the rights of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others. So far, ISD has completed auditing in 92 RMG factories for barrier-free access and disability inclusive HR policies. In the presence of the Chief Guest, Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Thomas Prinz, German Ambassador to Bangladesh, and Annisul Huq, Mayor, Dhaka North City Corporation along with Mohammed Nasir, Vice President (Finance), BGMEA, unveiled the logo of “Champions of Inclusion” in presence of the leading RMG owners and stakeholders. Representatives from Bitopi Group, Fakhruddin Textiles Ltd, Urmi Group, Saiham Knit Composite Ltd, Vintage Denim Ltd, Pandora Associates Ltd, Viyellatex Group, Mohammadi Group, Pride Group, Evergreen Sweaters Ltd, Interstoff Group, and Renaissance Group & Sweater Makers Ltd were present.
