Occupational safety vital to RMG sector

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Friday said occupational safety is important for the apparel sector and that it has been ensured almost completely in the country.

“We have a huge achievement in the RMG sector, while the Rana Plaza collapse changed the scenario. After the disaster, we gradually improved our workplace environment,” the minister said while speaking as the chief guest at a programme at the BGMEA office in Dhaka.

The programme, titled “Global Lunching of Centre for innovation efficiency and OSH”, was a part of the Made in Bangladesh Week 2022 organised by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in partnership with Bangladesh Apparel Exchange from November 12 to 18.

Tipu Munshi laid emphasis on ensuring occupational safety in achieving the target of $100 billion in export earnings by 2030 in the apparel sector. The minister, however, urged not to focus only on earning money and increasing exports bypassing the safety issue in workplaces.

“We started our journey with many limitations, but now the sector is a key performer in export earnings. The government’s policy support and BGMEA’s initiatives helped to achieve it,” he added.

Tipu Munshi, who was also a former president of the BGMEA, urged the entrepreneurs to focus on research and development of the products.