The United Kingdom will launch three projects in Bangladesh to help improve working conditions and safety standards for readymade garment units. One project is aimed at helping all levels of staff, factory owners, management, supervisors and workers to work together to improve working environment and productivity, address issues such as fire safety, absenteeism, working hours, take-home pay and efficiency.

The second project would provide training for middle management to improve knowledge and understanding of labor and safety standards, and how to apply these in their garment factories. The third would focus on improved healthcare and training nurses who work in factory clinics to increase the range of services they provide and provide advice to workers. The aim is to enhance the competitiveness of garment factories as a healthier workforce helps factory performance.

The British funding is worth £1.8 million pounds. Factory collapses and fires have put the spotlight on working conditions in the country’s garment industry. Bangladesh’s garment sector remains vital to poverty reduction. It is worth over £13 billion, and provides over four million jobs for people, 70 to 80 per cent of whom are women. The garment industry supports a further 25 million people.