Absence of knowledge about the remediation work, lack of sufficient DEA (detailed engineering assessment) conducting firms, and delay in completion of the total assessment programme have been identified as the roadblocks to remediation progress in garment factory inspection under the government-ILO joint initiative, sources said. Many factories are located in rented or shared buildings that accommodate other establishments and the row among the factory and building owners as to who will carry out the necessary flaw fixings work is also held responsible behind the slow progress, they added. Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) jointly organised a view exchange meeting among the 115 garment units in Dhaka assessed under the national initiative (NI) due to their poor progress in remediation work. State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque was present as the chief guest while Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar, DIFE Inspector General Syed Ahmed, BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman and Vice President Mahmud Hasan Khan, among others, were present in the meeting held on Sunday at BGMEA’s headquarters in the city. Finding the remediation progress under NI very poor compared to that of western retailers’ groups, the meeting was conveyed to put pressure on the RMG (readymade garment) makers so that they can submit their corrective action plan to the DIFE for its approval and do necessary remedial work in line with the CAPs (corrective action plans). The meeting also asked the RMG makers for speedy submission of CAPs and inform the authority concerned if they want to relocate their units within a timeframe, meeting sources said. Some RMG makers alleged that the number of detailed engineering analyses is insufficient compared to the number of garment units and the firms also charge high taking advantage of long queues. Responding to their allegation, the minister said that the government will select 12 to 13 more firms in this connection. The meeting also informed that Accord and Alliance are not accepting the inspection reports by the ILO-nominated engineering firms that assessed some 1,500 garment units under the NI. Out of these units, some 318 have been asked to conduct DEA. Responding to a question after the meeting, the minister told the reporters that there is no scope for denying the inspection reports of garment factories under the national initiative by the western retailers groups – Accord and Alliance – as the standards have been set in line with the law of the land and they also agreed to the set standards. Relating to funding required for remediation, the secretary said the RMG makers did not raise the issue of financial support. He, however, said the government got assurance over getting financial support from some donor countries including Germany.
