Faruque Hassan, the President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), emphasised that ensuring the health and well-being of garment workers is not just a priority but an absolute necessity for the growth, reputation, and long-term sustainability of the Readymade Garment industry of Bangladesh.
He made these remarks during his address at a dialogue titled Fostering the Health and Wellness of Our Workforce, which was organised by Ayat Education in collaboration with Integral GlobalHealth and BGMEA.
The event received support from The John C. Martin (JCM) Foundation and took place in Dhaka recently.
The programme witnessed the participation of esteemed guests, including H.E. Charles Whitely, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh; Tuomo Poutiaine, Country Director of ILO Bangladesh; Sadhana Bhagwat, Medical Officer-NCD, WHO Bangladesh; Asif Ibrahim, Director, BGMEA; Ziaur Rahman, H&M Group Country Manager for Bangladesh; Neelanjana Khan, Country Project Manager, Primark; and Misha Mahjabeen, Country Director, Vision Spring.
The discussion was moderated by Nusrat Aman, CEO of Ayat Education, while Nabil Ahmed, Director of Integral Global Health, delivered the keynote presentation during the roundtable.
In his address, Faruque Hassan underscored the industry’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety, health, nutrition, and overall well-being of the workforce even as he elaborated on the extensive non-wage benefits provided by factories, which encompass healthcare centres, eye care facilities, daycare centres, fair price shops, as well as community-oriented initiatives such as schools and hospitals.
Faruque Hassan also highlighted various collaborative efforts and initiatives undertaken by the BGMEA to promote the health and well-being of RMG workers.
