Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has called on all garment manufacturers from across the country to ensure workplace safety so as to make the industry more sustainable.
While speaking at the Sustainable Apparel Summit in Dhaka, Tipu said that in addition to ensuring reasonable wages, the workers should also be provided with more facilities, which will help in producing best quality products and thereby further increase the export volume.
The summit was jointly organised by the Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry and SNV Netherlands.
He also said that after the 2013 Rana Plaza incident, the Government of Bangladesh had strengthened its efforts and initiatives on workplace safety and created a congenial environment for its garment workers.
Farhtheeba Rahat Khan, Team Leader, Working with Women, in her presentation said that it is important to focus on the well-being of garment workers to make the industry more sustainable.
Endorsing the thoughts of Tipu Munshi, Jeroen Steeghs, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Economic Affairs and Development Cooperation, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, stated at the summit that any step in sustainability would finally benefit over 4 million workforce that majorly constitutes women.
He expressed happiness that garment industry is one of the few sectors in Bangladesh where women are in real sense economically empowered.