The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) in Bangladesh surveyed 567 RMG factories between October and December last year to know the progress being made on safety related compliance issues. Even the BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) and the BKMEA ((Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association) surveyed 910 and 79 factories around the same time to review the progress. However, the surveys conducted by all three have come up with totally different results.

While the MoLE survey found that only 34 per cent of the surveyed factories were up to the mark on the parameters like factory building condition, 45 per cent factories were following the directives on fire-fighting and safety measures, and 42 per cent were at 'satisfactory level' on electrical safety issues. The BGMEA and the BKMEA surveys found 66 to 100 per cent compliance among factories on the above mentioned issues.

As per the MoLE survey, 65 per cent factories had been up to the mark on labour safety, 87 per cent factories were following law on maternity leave and allowances, 80 per cent were following the regulation on leave, 91 per cent were paying wages in accordance with the new wage board, service book provision was being followed at 59 per cent factories, 79 units were providing workers with identity cards with photos, and 74 per cent of the factories had issued appointment letters.

The BGMEA survey states that 100 per cent factories had been up to the mark on electrical safety issue, 99.67 per cent factories were following the instruction on fire-fighting and safety measures, 99 per cent were paying wages according to the new wage structure, 93 per cent had provided appointment letters, 91 per cent were following the law on leave, and 100 per cent factories were following the instruction on building condition.
Whereas the BKMEA survey found 90 per cent factories were paying wages in accordance with the new wage structure, 100 per cent factories had taken measures on labour safety, 98 per cent factories were following law on maternity leave and allowance, and 90 per cent factories had ensured fire-fighting equipment and safety measures.

www.mole.gov.bd
www.bkmea.com
www.bgmea.com.bd