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Improving working conditions in the ready-made garment sector Phase 2 (RMGP II) and Building responsible value chains in Asia through the promotion of decent work in... - Cluster evaluation

eval_number:

2743

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/2743

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Occupational safety & health

category:

Governance and Tripartism

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comments:

All RMG factories, as well as the workers and communities affected by these establishments.

challenges:

Differential standards of monitoring are being carried out in the initiatives, especially when the LIMA inspection module and checklists have been institutionalized. DIFE cooperation modalities with RSC and Nirapon have yet not developed fully to take charge of all the safety and social compliance issues in export oriented RMG factories. The other challenges have been a) limited or no sharing of compliance related data by different initiatives, and b) there is no unified system of monitoring among these initiatives.

success:

Driven by investment promotion, PMO involvement in ensuring safety processes across all sectors in Bangladesh (BIDA and FBCCI assessment of 5200 factories beyond RMG) in a positive success factor.

context:

Each initiative developed its own standards and compliance approaches based on requirements of international buyers in terms of audit reports. Each initiative made its own interpretations of the BLA /BLR to align its protocols to these the national laws and regulatory framework. The initiatives operated independently even though the programme initiated some linkages and knowledge sharing through the Industrial Safety Forum in May 2022.

description:

Safety Plus approach has a higher potential for improvement of working conditions in the RMG factories. The RMGP over phases I and II saw a range of initiatives such as DIFE-NI, RSC, BWB, Nirapon, BIDA-FBCCI. All prioritised safety standards while some focused on the larger spectrum of social compliance issues e.g., BWB. Clearly there is a need for lessons learning from all these initiatives. Safety+ approach of compliance is likely to generate better results as have been demonstrated by the evidence compiled by this evaluation. The standards pursued by different initiatives can progressively build on the safety+ and social compliance (and subsequently environmental compliance) standards and approach as it is likely to lead to improved competitiveness and brand-value of the RMG sector and country’s exports.

administrative_issues:

ILO programme designers should learn from these experiences of multiple initiatives in terms of how better linkages and data sharing can be ensured.

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/232421

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location:

country:

Bangladesh

region:

Asia and the Pacific

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eval_title:

Improving working conditions in the ready-made garment sector Phase 2 (RMGP II) and Building responsible value chains in Asia through the promotion of decent work in... - Cluster evaluation