CPD Policy Brief 12
Can a Sustainable Inspection System be Developed?
The Case of RMG Sector in Bangladesh
After successful completion of inspection and remediation of readymade garment (RMG) enterprises in 2018 under two major international initiatives, major stakeholders are waiting to know more about the future monitoring system which will replace the existing one. The international initiatives of the Accord for Workplace Safety (henceforth Accord), Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (henceforth Alliance) and National Initiative (NI) are important repositories of organisational learning of as far as monitoring and inspection (M & I) systems of industrial establishments are concerned. Under these initiatives, a total of 3,839 RMG enterprises have been inspected which have undertaken remediation measures as per the Corrective Action Plans (CAPs). These initiatives have followed international standards for M & I which were rarely practised by local authorities because of various structural and regulatory weaknesses, along with lack of knowledge and understanding and dearth of logistic and human resource capacities. It is important to institutionalise the organisational knowledge to develop a sustainable M & I system for factories. The objective of this policy brief is to review the problems identified in workplace safety and security in the RMG sector and to identify the gaps of the public monitoring system in contrast with that of international initiatives, and consequently putting forward a set of recommendations for developing a sustainable M & I system for factories.
Authors: Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Sk. Faizan Bin Halim and Mastura Shafayat
Publication period: July 2018
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