A two-day training programme aimed at improving the capacities of journalists on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) in ready-made garment (RMG) sector concluded in the capital.
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) organized the programme at Hotel Asia at Top Khawna Road in the capital with the support of Netherlands-based organization Mondiaal FNV.
Naimul Ahsan Jewel, Advisory Council Member of BIlS, inaugurated the event, which concluded on Sunday.
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of BILS, Nazma Yesmin, director (research and development) of BILS, Md. Shahinur Rahman, consultant of FNV Mondiaal, Kaji Abdul Hannan, president of Labour Rights Journalists’ Forum, Zakir Hossain, office secretary of Economic Reporters Forum, senior trainer Md. Motaher Hossain, Yusuf Al Mamun, deputy director of BILS, among others, spoke at the function.
Addressing on the occasion, the speakers told that RMG sector has been playing an important role to the country’s economy. European countries may halt buying orders from Bangladesh after 2029 if human rights are not ensured in the sector. So, the government, owners and workers in RMG sector, and journalists should be aware of the issue right now.
In every stage of the business activities such as beginning from cotton cultivation to reaching the final products to consumers, the issue of labour rights must be ensured. Payment of wages to the workers timely, adequate rest, safe and healthy work atmosphere, and ensuring maternal leave for the female workers are their other rights, they added.
Hence, the owners must uphold human rights, and check violation of labour rights. It will help create a proper environment in the sector, they said, calling on journalists to raise awareness by highlighting the issue for the sake of our RMG sector.
