Enhancing Social Compliance in Garments Factories of Bangladesh: Impact of Social Dialogue

Management

The ready-made garment (RMG) industry is number one foreign currencies earning source of Bangladesh. Now this sector is facing a lot of challenges. Social compliance is one of the most import problems in this sector. Present study has conducted to examine the status of social compliance in garments factories in Bangladesh, to assess the extent of practice of social dialogue approach to enhance the social compliance problems in factories and to evaluate the challenges of implementing social compliance in garment factory. The study was conducted at Dhaka city in Bangladesh. The study was survey type. Total 277 respondents were selected among them respondents 98 were Managers, 80 were Welfare Officers and 99 were Supervisors. From the result it was found that working condition is congenial more or less for employee at all level and work related Job stress is less due to social dialogue approach. Supervisors provide necessary support to the worker when needed except some exceptions. In some cases jobs are not clearly defined and necessary skills & knowledge is not provided. In the recent years it is found that due to social dialogue approaches, opinion of employees is given due respect and tnter-personal conflict and inter departmental conflict is lesser than previous time. Hazard Identification & risk assessments processes are in practice such as fire drill, evacuation drill and all relevant assignment, are in place and up-to-date. More or less all employees are up-to-date with the occupational Health and Safety Act and applicable regulations. Upward and downward communication is more or less smooth and easy. Grievance handling process is in practice and employees are aware about that. From the result it was also found that it is less challenging to foster complying buyers and applicable code of conduct. Different policy and procedures are reviewed to align with updated code of conduct. Garments owners are motivated without providing compliances buyers will not buy their products from their factories or companies. For this reason welfare activities are increasing substantially and social dialogue creates learning environment in the organization. From the above results in can be said that the ready-made garment owners should realize that the international associations of buyers are aware regarding the compliance issues so the ready-made garment owners should become more cautious regarding the compliance issues otherwise the orders from the international renowned buyers will reduce which will hamper the export revenue. Government should come forward in this concern as government gets more foreign exchange from this sector. Government is providing all kinds of supports this support should be increased.

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