The government-formed committee has made a 13-point observation on Accord’s transition plan, asking the European Union-based platform for a time-bound responsibility handover arrangement, people involved with the process said.Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), however, has proposed that the Accord’s function should be handed over to the Remediation Coordination Cell (RCC) within 150 days or five months, they added.Though the issue of Accord’s extension remained under judicial consideration, the government has recently formed the committee headed by a labour ministry additional secretary with representatives from Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), RCC, BGMEA and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Accord to finalise a time-bound Accord’s function handover plan.”The first meeting of the committee held last week asked Accord to place a transition plan with a timeframe in the next meeting scheduled to be held on February 07,” a top official of the committee told the FE.In September last year, the Accord submitted an exit plan to the government to end its ongoing workplace safety activities in the country’s readymade garment sector in six phases, he said, adding that not only the previous plan but also the latest one didn’t outline any timeframe.Accord’s proposed transition plan mainly put attention on remediation of the factories, RCC’s capacity building including setting up a liaison office of Accord within it, handover of Accord’s safety committee, safety training programme and its safety complaints mechanism, another meeting source said.The observations included Accord’s transition mechanism to be focused on smooth transition of management of the factories from the platform to RCC within a stipulated time to comply with the High Court order, he added.In phase three and four, Accord has proposed gradual handover of its safety committee, training programme and complaints mechanism, he said, adding that these issues are not directly linked with workplace safety and the government has its own such programmes and workplace grievances reprisal procedures under DIFE.Capacity building of RCC should not be a part of Accord’s transition plan, according to the observations.The RCC, which is currently overseeing the remediation activities in the garment factories inspected under the national initiative, has been set up to take over the functions of the western retailers’ platforms -Accord and Alliance- once it develops capacity.The Accord, a platform of more than 200 global apparel brands, retailers and rights groups based mostly in Europe, was formed immediately after the Rana Plaza building collapse to improve the workplace safety in the country’s apparel industry for five years that ended in May last.The government allowed a six-month extension until November 30 while the platform wants to stay for more time.Accord has so far handed over responsibilities of its inspected 100 garment factories, which fully completed all the required remediation work, labour ministry officials said.
