BEF President Ardashir Kabir on Monday said that being at the threshold of LDC-graduation, Bangladesh must ensure equitable economic growth and protection of human rights.
He said this entailed businesses and individuals to be adequately trained on HRDD and RBC. The goal of this BEF-BRAC partnership was to create comprehensive training programs on these matters so that businesses could meet global standards and mitigate risks arising from rapid industrial growth.
BEF President made the remarks while addressing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF) and BRAC on imparting training on human rights due diligence (HRDD) and responsible business conduct (RBC) on Monday, at the BEF Gulshan office.
The training programs are specifically designed to meet the unique requirements of various industrial sectors, including but not limited to RMG & textile, leather & leather goods, footwear, other manufacturing, agro-processing, and IT & ITES.
The programs will emphasize the adoption of international labor standards, labor laws, and environmental regulations, fostering a culture of respect, fairness, and sustainability within businesses.
Asif Saleh, Executive Director, BRAC, mentioned that with the ever-increasing global requirement for compliance, there was a need to set up relevant training programs that worked with the private sector. As BRAC’s core focus centered on development, he believed this partnership to be a step towards creating a safe workplace.
Saleh underscored that, through inclusive growth and responsible businesses, the private sector could shape the future of Bangladesh.
Kamran T. Rahman, Former President, BEF and President (Elect) for the year 2024, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka, said that trainings on HRDD and RBC were much needed. He expressed his satisfaction in witnessing the partnership between BEF and BRAC and extended his best wishes.
Farooq Ahmed, Secretary-General and CEO, BEF and S.K. Jenefa K. Jabbar, Director, Social Compliance and Safeguarding, BRAC signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.
The event was attended by representatives of BEF, BRAC, ILO, GIZ, BGMEA, BKMEA, LFMEAB, multinational companies, media, and other stakeholders.
