Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed left for Belgium to join 4th review meeting of ‘Sustainability Compact’ for the Bangladesh garment sector and ‘Responsible Pursuing Practices’ workshop to be held in Brussels on today (Monday) and tomorrow.Bangladesh signed the ILO-brokered Sustainability Compact with the EU, the country’s largest export destination, committing responsible business behaviour in Geneva on July 8, 2013 in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza collapse.It brings together the European Union (EU), Bangladesh, the US, Canada and the International Labour Organization (ILO) with the common goal of improving working conditions and the respect of labour rights in Bangladesh’s ready- made garment (RMG) industry.Tofail leads an 18-member delegation in the review which is expected to focus on labour rights, building safety, occupational and health safety and quality trade, said a handout of the commerce ministry.Members of the delegation include state minister for labour and employment Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu, commerce secretary Shubhashish Basu, labour and employment ministry secretary Afroza Khan, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Mohammad Shafiul Islam, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Md Siddiqur Rahman, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones executive director Major General Md Habibur Rahman Khan and representatives from Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Employers Federation.It is expected that Bangladesh would be in a praiseworthy position in the review meeting as it has already made significant progress in maintaining labour rights, workplace and occupational safety.The commerce minister is expected to return home on June 27.The 1st review meeting was held in Brussels on October 20, 2014. The 2nd and 3rd meetings were held in Dhaka on January 28, 2016 and May 18, 2017 respectively.
