Almost nine months since the Bangladesh Government instructed the concerned authorities to stop issuing utility declaration (UD) to around 142 factories due to their slow progress in safety remediation, the apex garment manufacturers’ body – Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has now decided to crack the whip.
It has reportedly decided to stop providing UDs to 51 of its member factories on ground of non-compliance.
“51 factories are now facing temporary suspension of utility declaration. BGMEA gave the directive on Tuesday…,”stated BGMEA President Dr. Rubana Huq while speaking to the media.
As per reports, BGMEA leaders recently held a meeting with the factory authorities to find out the problems the factories are facing in implementing the corrective action plans, following which the traders’ body decided to stop issuing UD to 51 factories for six months, and asked the units to ensure required progress is made in these six months.
“Recently BGMEA informed Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) that they would take initiative against the factories, which are unwilling to implement corrective action plan, with a further review. But we are yet to be informed of the latest development,”observed Joint Inspector General of DIFE, Farid Ahmed.