Apparel leaders, global buyers, regulators discuss overlapping audit challenges, compliance requirements in high-level meeting
Such challenges lead to audit fatigue, duplication of efforts, and inefficient resource use, they said
Apparel leaders and government officials of the country discussed the persistent challenge of overlapping audits and compliance requirements in the RMG and textile sector with global partners and buyers in a high-level consultation meeting on Tuesday (27 May).
Such challenges lead to audit fatigue, duplication of efforts, and inefficient resource use, participants highlighted at the meeting titled "Towards Alignment: Consultation for a Single Monitoring and Compliance System (SMCS)" at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara.
The event was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), reads a press statement.
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The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), and major global brands such as M&S, GAP, Inditex, and Li & Fung, alongside members of BGMEA and BKMEA.
This consultation focused on discussing ways to establish a common platform to streamline monitoring and compliance practices for enhanced sector-wide efficiency and accountability.
The session was chaired by Md Anwar Hossain, Administrator, BGMEA. ANM Saifuddin, Supporting Committee member, BGMEA, moderated the discussion, while Fazlee Ehsan Shamim, executive president, BKMEA, also spoke at the meeting.
In his remarks, Tuomo Poutiainen, country director of ILO Bangladesh, stressed the importance of developing a credible and inclusive national system. He highlighted the need for trust-building and institutional collaboration to ensure the system's success and sustainability.
In his remarks, BGMEA Administrator Md Anwar Hossain underscored the need for addressing fragmentation in audits to minimise fatigue and highlighted the importance of a common platform of compliance system with a credible and internationally accepted unified code of conduct for social and technical audits.
He emphasised this would benefit all stakeholders — buyers, manufacturers, and workers alike.
Anwar Hossain urged the ILO to take the lead in facilitating its development.
All brand representatives and stakeholders present expressed support for the initiative. Key outcomes from the consultation include that BGMEA and BKMEA will jointly develop a concept paper outlining the scope, rationale, and framework of a unified monitoring and compliance system.
Also, stakeholder consultations will be initiated to identify common compliance indicators across trade bodies, employers, trade unions, brands, and auditing experts.
The initiative aims to lay the groundwork for a trusted and transparent national compliance system aligned with global expectations, along with the Bangladeshi context.
