Dhaka: The International Labour Organisation on Wednesday signed an agreement with Bangladesh Employers Federation, aiming to enhance occupational safety and health in the country’s garment industry.

ILO Bangladesh country director Srinivas Reddy and BEF president Tapan Chowdhury signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides at Square Centre at Mohakhali in Dhaka, ILO senior communications officer Steve Needham said.

The agreement marks the beginning of the second phase of a two-year plan supported by ILO’s Improving Working Conditions in the RMG sector project funded by Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom that will see some 7,50,000 to 8,00,000 workers gain practical skills on how to reduce workplace accidents.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Srinivas Reddy said, ‘It’s vital that a culture of occupational health and safety is built throughout the Bangladesh RMG sector. By working closely with the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation, we’ll be able to build capacity at all levels that will benefit workers and employers alike.’  

Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association president Atiqul Islam, vice-president (finance) Reaz-Bin Mahmood and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice-president Monsoor Ahmed were present on the occasion.

The first phase of the ILO-BEF collaboration saw the formation of a team of 114 master occupational safety and health trainers. During the second phase, the master trainers will head out to 400 RMG factories and train 7,500 to 8,000 midlevel and line supervisors who in turn will pass on the safety knowledge to 7,50,000 to 8,00,000 workers. By doing so, they will help create a culture of workplace safety and implement practical measures to reduce the risk of accidents.

Master trainers have been selected by the BEF, BGMEA and BKMEA and include their own staff as well as officers from private sector companies in the RMG sector.

The initiative is also backed by the International Training Centre of the ILO which has helped build the capacity of master trainers to deliver the courses which use the ITC-ILO essentials of occupational safety and health package.