Maintain momentum in factory safety: UK

Britain says Bangladesh has made “significant progress” in improving factory safety and workers rights in the wake of the Rana Plaza tragedy, but warns that challenges remain.

“The priority now is to maintain momentum,” the British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson said on Tuesday.

He spoke after opening a photo exhibition jointly with the Canadian High Commissioner and the Netherlands Ambassador ahead of the one-year anniversary of the worst-ever building collapse in Bangladesh’s history.

It killed more than 1,100 people, mostly garment workers and evoked worldwide concerns about Bangladesh’s factory safety.

Canada, the Netherlands and the UK are jointly funding the International Labour Organization (ILO) projects to improve factory safety and working conditions in the readymade garment sector.

The photo exhibition “Life and Struggle of Garment Workers in Bangladesh” by Andrew Biraj was opened at the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka.

It began with a minute’s silence in remembrance of the victims of the building collapse.

The main exhibition will continue at the Drik Gallery from April 23 to May 1.

Gibson said like others around the world, people in the UK were shocked by the appalling loss of life in the tragedy at Savar on Apr 24 last year.

“Significant progress has been made but significant challenges remain,” he said.

The UK has pledged £4.8 million for the ILO project.

Canadian envoy Heather Cruden said her country was also committed to supporting the government in its efforts to improve the working conditions in the clothing sector.

This sector accounts for nearly 80 percent of Bangladesh’s total export earnings and employs about 4 million people, mostly women.

Cruden said she believed that their support would contribute “to ensuring that Bangladesh will be better equipped to ensure safe and healthy employment for its people”.

Netherlands Ambassador Gerben Jong said the photos on display “reminded us of the deep emotions felt after the collapse of Rana Plaza a year ago”.

“This exhibition underlines the need for significant transformation in the sector,” he said pointing at the photos that portrayed the harsh battles of garment workers.