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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

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

recommendations:

date:

2023-11-13 00:00:00.0

themes:

theme:

Organizational issues

category:

Planning and programme design

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comments:

"In response to the dynamic needs and circumstances shaping the socio-economic landscape of Bangladesh, the ILO Country Office in Dhaka (CO-Dhaka) is recalibrating its development cooperation initiatives. One such initiative is the ""Labour Administration and Working Conditions Programme (LAWC),” that is designed to address comprehensive labour market necessities and deficits in decent work, amalgamating previous projects within a unified framework. The LAWC cluster has initiated programs, such as Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh and PROSHAR, which synergistically contribute to achieving five overarching outcomes. These renewed initiatives will continue to support ongoing efforts in diverse streams of work such as social dialogue, labour administration, occupational safety, and health (OSH), industrial safety, child labour, and sustainable enterprises, extending support up to 2027. By integrating varied work streams within a consolidated framework, the LAWC cluster signifies our commitment to addressing multifaceted labour market needs and promoting decent work conditions in alignment with the progressive economic developments in Bangladesh. Going forward, the ILO's LAWC initiatives will provide support, extending beyond the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, enhancing its positive influence, and replicating successful practices therein. Prior to introducing interventions in selected non-RMG sectors, comprehensive risk profiling will be undertaken. To ensure multifaceted and successful entry into varied sectors, the planned initiatives encompass policy advocacy with pertinent ministries. These projects represent a concerted effort by the ILO, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), and workers' and employers' organizations, to facilitate labour reforms and uphold decent work in alignment with national developmental frameworks. These endeavours strive to refine policies and legislation concerning labour, foster accountable, gender-sensitive, and inclusive labour market institutions, and promote sustainable business conduct to improve industry competitiveness. They are crafted to address the issues of child labour and to advocate for safer, healthier working conditions, all while enhancing occupational safety and health standards. Our commitment is to implement comprehensive and coordinated responses, aiming to ensure the promulgation of reformed labour policies and the realization of decent work in tandem with the national development vision, thereby contributing to the creation of a more equitable and inclusive labour market."

action_plan:

"1. Implementation of Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh project. 2. Implementation of PROSHAR project."

management_response:

Partially Completed

progress:

No implementation

admin_units:

CO-Dhaka

title:

Recommendation 1: Develop a fully integrated third generation of reforms / next phase of the programme: In the last decade, post Rana Plaza (2013), there has been considerable affirmative actions and incremental change in the RMG sector. The programme model has been successful in accelerating this trajectory of change. But there are lessons to be learnt as well. Therefore, the third generation of reforms in the RMG sector should be a more integrated intervention. The reforms in the first and second phase of the programme have established the foundations for bigger and more ambitious process of change. Next phase of programming should, ideally, focus on: • The RMG sector to complete the ongoing process of ‘systemic’ change and ‘institutionalisation’ and to ensure sustainability of structures building on the momentum achieved so far. This is not the time yet for the ILO to withdraw from the RMG sector as the ILO is needed for a range of support measures to the tripartite constituency for completing the CAP remediation in the NI factories and including a portion of still uncovered tier 2 factories in the fold. The ILO support is also needed for streamlining OSS, LIMA, ISU, ISF, and for facilitating inter-ministerial coordination, unified code of conduct, remediation finance redesign and reboot etc. • The non-RMG sectors: Suitable adaptation and replication of the RMG model of compliance to other non-RMG sectors – both export-oriented and risk-prone sectors serving domestic markets. The data from the BIDA-FBCCI assessment of 5206 factories can aid in risk profiling and selection of priority non-RMG sectors. This would also require policy advocacy (by the ILO) with different government ministries and departments. The next phase of programming should ideally have the following strategic areas /programme components:

project_symbols:

BGD/19/05/MUL

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/recommendations/17408

information_source:

Country Office

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