Two private sector companies TUV-SUD Bangladesh and Veritas Engineering have undertaken speedy structural, fire and electrical safety inspections of factories in Bangladesh as part of the national initiative under the National Tripartite Plan of Action for Fire and Structural Safety (NTPA). The companies started their inspections on January 22, and are expected to complete the same by end of April.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) supports the work through its Improving Working Conditions in the RMG sector project, an initiative funded by Canada, the Netherlands and the UK. Bangladesh has around 3,500 export-orientated ready-made garment factories, out of which 1,690 factories are being inspected by two initiatives led by brands and retailers from Europe - the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety and North America (the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety).
The remaining factories are being inspected under the national initiative supported by ILO. As of now, around 500 factories have been inspected by teams from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) for building, fire and electrical safety.
www.tuv-sud.com.bd
