GTZ PROGRESS

The revised Bangladesh labor law and the existing building code and environmental act largely address the requirements of international regulations.

The challenge for the government is to enforce these laws and regulations and monitor their application. The government seeks to address these challenges by strengthening its inspection and monitoring institutions. In addition, it has set up a Social Compliance Forum and is implementing various awareness raising campaigns.

PROGRESS supports these initiatives chiefly through:

• Development of materials for and funding of awareness raising campaigns
• Training and capacity development measures for labor law inspectors and monitoring officers
• Advisory services, expertise and logistical services to the Social Compliance Forum (SCF) and the Multi-Stakeholder Forum Bangladesh (MFB).

Major Achievements

Major achievements to date include:

• Better equipped and qualified government institutions responsible for the promotion of the new laws and training of inspectors
• Improved awareness among major RMG stakeholders and the public regarding the implication of the revised labor, environment and building laws
• Round tables on RMG issues are regularly conducted in order to harmonize interests of different stakeholders
• MFB members jointly drew up and approved a development strategy and investment proposals to improve social, environmental and production standards in the RMG sector.