What the stakeholders think about Accord extension?

Companies and global unions have agreed on a 2nd Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (“Accord”). The agreement will enter into effect when the current Accord expires in May 2018. According to press release of Accord, several companies have now signed the renewed agreement with IndustriALL Global Union and UNI Global Union. Many more companies are expected to sign in the coming days.

However, what the other stakeholders think about the extension. Here is our take on their views

Global trade union leader

 Valter Sanches, general-secretary of the IndustriALL

 “The Accord can be expanded to other sectors, and as worker representatives, we urge you to acknowledge the new Accord’s significance as an important step towards responsible global supply chains.”

 

John Evans, general secretary of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD,

“The signing of new Accord shows that the legally-binding agreement between brands and unions is a successful model for driving positive change in global supply chains.”

“The G20 leaders need to learn this lesson and give it full support.”

Garment makers  

Siddiqur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)

“We don’t accept the new agreement. It is a unilateral decision by the Accord. We have not been included in the board of the Accord and the signatories did not even show the draft copy of the new agreement.”

Atiqul Islam, a former president of BGMEA.

“We don’t need the Accord anymore. The government, the RCC and BGMEA can continue working on strengthening the workplace safety and improve the labour rights.”

“No more industrial accident has taken place in the garment sector since the Rana Plaza building collapse because of strong inspection, remediation and monitoring by the experts of the European-led Accord and the North American-led Alliance. But, I am concerned about the handling of millions of workers by the Accord as it will work on freedom of association and improvement of labour rights. Bangladesh has its own labour law.”

Mahmud Hasan Khan (Babu) , Vice President of BGMEA

“The name of Accord says itself that it will work with fire and structural safety of the factories. It is not under the jurisdiction of their works to work for the rights of labour organization.”

“It is the Bangladesh government who will take final decision regarding Accord. If government thinks that extension of Accord tenure will be good for garment industry, they will remain. Otherwise, they will leave.  If government gives them permission, business which can fulfill Accord’s requirements will do business and others will leave the profession.”

AK Azad, managing director of Ha-Meem Group

“The Accord has done excellent work in the first phase as buildings are safe now thanks to its intensive inspection, remediation and monitoring. But, we don’t want the extension of the Accord in case freedom of association as it is an internal issue of Bangladesh.”

Rubana Huq, managing director of Mohammadi Group

“The inclusion of freedom of association in the new agreement is very surprising to her whereas Bangladesh has a very strong labour law which has given full freedom of association to the workers at factory level. We hoped that the signatories of the new agreement would include the government and BGMEA in the executive body of the Accord. But this has not happened. I am concerned about the future of local trade unions if the Accord starts working in the area of freedom of association and labour rights at factory level. Where will our local unions go?”

Bangladesh Union leaders

Amirul Haque Amin, labour leader and Accord steering committee member

“The decision to extend Accord’s tenure will be a good thing for Bangladesh’s garment industry.  Accord is yet to complete many remediation works. They need time to complete this. I do not think Accord’s tasks will harm Bangladesh’s garment industry. Rather, working environment will be improved. When working environment will be improved, global buyer’s interest in Bangladesh’s garment industry will also increase.”

“The discussion for extension of Accord’s tenure has been for the last six months and one year. Representatives of brands and buyers informed this to BGMEA leaders.”

 Bangladesh government

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed

“The extension of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh by three more years is unexpected as the decision was taken unilaterally by the trade unions, retailers and global brands. The signatories could have discussed (it) with the stakeholders before taking such an important decision.”

“The accord’s signatories could have sent a proposal to the government. I asked the diplomats to send the extension of the accord as a proposal. We will discuss the proposal and then take the decision.’