This ‘RMG Monitoring Brief’ is the third in a series of briefs published under the civil society monitoring initiative. The primary objective of this brief is to critically examine the recent performance of agencies responsible for safety monitoring in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry. The brief identifies a comparative improvement in RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) data reporting compared to the past. However, many uncertainties still persist in this regard. The limited focus on boiler inspection, slow progress in fire-related safety remediation, and inconsistency in inspection prioritisation are additional concerns for the Ready-Made Garment Sustainability Council (RSC). On the other hand, the Industrial Safety Unit (ISU) continues to monitor the remediation of National Initiative (NI) factories. The decision to involve private consulting firms to expand ISU’s inspection capacity is a positive move if implemented promptly and effectively. However, ISU’s minimalistic public sharing of information must be addressed to enhance its accountability. Similarly, Nirapon, the private entity working to advance factory safety, should establish a detailed data reporting mechanism so that its performance can be assessed to identify the proper pathway.
Authors: Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Tamim Ahmed, Ifreet Saraf
Publication Period: January 2024