By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
Recent political developments in Bangladesh are having significant repercussions on the garment, footwear, and accessories sectors, with reports indicating that some garment workers experienced unpaid or reduced wages in July, and suppliers have been running factories with increased overtime.
Several non profit organizations, including amfori, Cascale, Ethical Trade Denmark, Ethical Trade Norway, the Ethical Trading Initiative , ETI Sweden, Fair Labor Association, Fair Wear Foundation, and Mondiaal FNV, are committed to mitigating the negative impacts on workers through responsible business practices as the situation in Bangladesh continues to evolve.
In a joint statement, the organizations emphasized the importance of companies maintaining stable, long-term partnerships with their suppliers in Bangladesh. They stated, "Collaborative partnerships are the key to responsible purchasing practices and ensuring decent working conditions in global supply chains."
ETI’s executive director, Giles Bolton, echoed this sentiment, standing in solidarity with workers and partners in Bangladesh during this transitional period. He stressed the need for international buyers to honor their commitments to suppliers, conduct enhanced human rights due diligence, and implement responsible purchasing practices to prevent further harm to workers and supply chains.
The organizations have urged fashion companies to uphold their commitments, conduct enhanced human rights due diligence, and adopt responsible purchasing practices to prevent adverse impacts on workers. Businesses operating in Bangladesh are encouraged to comply with international human rights standards, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and ILO core labor conventions, especially during this period of civil unrest.
Key recommendations include conducting enhanced human rights due diligence, engaging meaningfully with stakeholders, and respecting workers' rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Companies are also urged to maintain transparent communication with suppliers, ensure timely payment of wages, avoid canceling orders, and extend production timelines where necessary to safeguard workers' rights and well being.
In line with responsible purchasing practices, businesses should ensure internal commitment to these principles, collaborate with suppliers, and pay for any additional costs that arise due to order modifications. Additionally, companies should avoid imposing penalties for delays and ensure that overtime work is voluntary and manageable for workers, all while guaranteeing timely payment for completed orders to support worker wages.
