The country’s apparel makers placed a complain to the European Union (EU) mentioning that the recent activities of Accord are instigating unrest in the country’s export-oriented readymade garments (RMG) industries. A delegation of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) led by its President Siddiqur Rahman made the allegation to Pierre Mayaudon, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EU to Dhaka at a meeting on Monday at the latter’s residence. BGMEA leaders said the EU is one of the major buyers of the garment products from Bangladesh and the textile sector exports 64 percent of the country’s total exports to the EU as it enjoys duty-free access there. “But the recent activities of the Accord are influencing our workers to form trade unions on factories and forcing the entrepreneurs to make Safety Committee and Participatory Committee,” they alleged. Those activities are instigating unrest in the country’s export-oriented readymade garments industries, BGMEA leaders said. The RMG owners are opposing different activities of Accord and Alliance since a long. The high government officials are also criticising the controversial acts of Accord and Alliance. In reply, EU Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon expressed his interest to talk on this issue in future, the meeting sources said. At the same time, EU Ambassador advised the RMG factories owners to fallow the existing Labor Law and the rules under the law. This was the first meeting for BGMEA new committee with Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EU. RMG leaders also informed the EU Ambassador about the measures undertaken by the government of Bangladesh and the BGMEA during last two years on ensuring labor rights and worker safety on readymade garments industries. The Accord, an alliance of more than 200 apparel brands, retailers and importers from over 20 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia was formed on May 15, 2013 for five years and it is working on the fire and building safety in Bangladesh. The Accord has completed inspection of more then 1500 factories in Bangladesh and they are now working on remediation of the buildings of the factories those are involved with export to Accords` brands. “We are discussing the ways to overcome the major challenges on reaching the target of RMG export worth $50 billion by the year 2021,” BGMEA Vice President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu told daily sun. He said, the EU ambassador offered them to give the technical support as training for workers and technology transfer. “We also informed him about the complexity on financing remediation process. However, the ambassador suggested us to inform him in written on this issue, then he will try to discuss with others those are involved with the process,” Babu added. BGMEA Senior Vice President Faruk Hasan said, “we went to the ambassador for talking about the meeting on `Sustainability Compact’, which is scheduled to be held on January 28, 29; where the officials of EU scheduled to participate. Expressing satisfaction over the progress of over the measures undertaken so far by the government and the BGMEA, the Ambassador suggested for implementing the labor law and policy, he also added. BGMEA Senior Vice President Faruk Hasan, Vice President (Finance) Mohmmad Nasir, Vice President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu and other officials of the trade body were also present at the meeting.
