NEWS SOURCE: The Daily Star

BSS, Davos, Switzerland.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government was highly committed to ensuring compliance with regard to the readymade garment (RMG) industry.

“The contribution of the apparel and textile industry to our economy is immense. We are highly committed to ensure compliance with regard to labour rights, workplace safety and environmental standard in the industry,” she said.

The PM was replying to questions at a workshop titled “Shaping a New Water Economy” at the 47th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum at Congress Centre here.

Hasina said Bangladesh’s RMG industry achieved higher compliance standards in terms of wages, workplace safety, norms, practices and harmonious industrial relations.

“There has been a 77 percent increase in basic wage.

Assessment of all the 3,780 factories as recommended by global brands and retailers has been completed,” she added.

Andrew Steer, president and CEO of World Research Institute, moderated the workshop attended by heads of state and government of different countries.

The PM said Bangladesh is the second largest apparel and textile exporting country in the world. The sector employs 4.5 million workers, of which 80 percent are women. The industry accounts for 83 percent of the country’s total exports.

“We are supporting the industry to ‘go green’. Today, Bangladesh has 38 LEED certified factories. Out of the world’s top 10 green factories, seven are in Bangladesh,” she pointed out.

The premier said since 2015, the Bangladesh government has been working with 2030 Water Resources Group (WRG) to achieve 100 percent wastewater treatment and increase water use efficiency as per international benchmarks in the country’s apparel sector.

PM JOINS WEF MEETING

World leaders, including Sheikh Hasina, gathered in Davos as the 47th Annual Meeting of the WEF kicked off yesterday.

The four-day meeting began at Congress Centre in Davos under the theme “Responsive and Responsible Leadership”.

President Xi Jinping of China opened the proceedings of the meeting. Hasina along with other heads of government and state joined the opening plenary and other events of the meeting.

Heads of state and government of 45 countries joined the meeting which began with a welcome address by WEF founder Klaus Schwab and felicitation of celebrity singer Shakira, among others, for her work towards promoting education.

On the sidelines of the forum, Hasina had informal interaction with the Chinese and Swiss presidents yesterday.

The WEF is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologne, Geneva. Its mission is cited as “committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas”.