BGMEA asks factories not to respond to RSC's non-OSH-related activities
A final decision on the issue will be announced after discussions at the upcoming RSC board meeting
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the apex trade body of the country's garment exporters, has instructed its member factories not to respond to any non-OSH (issues that are not related to Occupational Safety and Health) initiatives undertaken by the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC).
In a letter issued on yesterday (9 November), the BGMEA requested its member factories to refrain from responding to any such request of RSC.
"We request all member factories not to respond to any communications, letters, or circulars from the RSC related to the non-OSH complaints mechanism," the letter states.
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The BGMEA further mentioned that the issue is currently under review and that the association's management is in close communication with the RSC to clarify the matter through constructive dialogue.
A final decision on the issue will be announced after discussions at the upcoming RSC board meeting, it said.
Earlier, the RSC — which took over the functions of the Accord in 2020 — informed the factories under its monitoring, starting from 16 November, it would expand its complaints mechanism beyond OSH matters to include a wider range of workplace-related issues, particularly labour rights and trade unions.
The move has drawn mixed reactions: garment industry owners expressed dissatisfaction, while labour leaders welcomed the decision.
