On 2^nd and 3^rd September, representatives of the BGMEA and the Steering Committee of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (Accord), met in Dhaka to discuss the establishment of the “RMG Sustainability Council (RSC)”; as previously agreed in the “Memorandum of Understanding” signed between the Accord Steering Committee and the BGMEA on 8 May 2019.

The parties discussed a wide range of issues to ensure a smooth transition of the Accord and its functions (related to inspections, remediation, training and safety complaints mechanism) to the RSC by end of May 2020.

The RSC is an unprecedented national initiative, uniting industry, brands and trade unions to ensure a sustainable solution, based on a unified compliance standard, to carry forward the significant accomplishments made on workplace safety in Bangladesh. The RSC will also encompass industrial relations, skill development and environmental standards.

The parties agreed on the importance of jointly developing the Memorandum & Articles of RSC and a “Transition Agreement”, drafts of which will be prepared following an agreed timetable.

The BGMEA and the Accord look forward to continuing the constructive discussions that took place over the last two days and commit to work together to ensure that RMG factories in Bangladesh are made safe and stay safe.