Desk Report (RMG Times)   RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), a tripartite compliance and safety monitoring body of the apparel sector, will be formally formed by November 25 as agreed upon by brands, union leaders and factory owners.

On 2^nd and 3^rd September, representatives of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Steering Committee of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (Accord), met at the Four Points by Sheraton in Dhaka to discuss the establishment of the “RMG Sustainability Council (RSC)”; as previously agreed in the “Memorandum of Understanding” signed between the Accord Steering Committee and the BGMEA on 8^th May 2019.

“The parties discussed a wide range of issues to ensure a smooth transition of the Accord and its functions related to inspections, remediation, training and safety complaints mechanism to RSC by the end of May 2020”, said Edward David Southall, head of global sourcing of LC Waikiki, on behalf of brands in joint statement.

“The RSC is an unprecedented national initiative, uniting industry, brands, and trade unions to ensure a sustainable solution, based on a unified compliance standard, to carry forward the significant accomplishments made on workplace safety in Bangladesh. The RSC will also encompass industrial relations, skill development and environmental standards”, he added.

The parties agreed on the importance of jointly developing the Memorandum & Articles of RSC and a “Transition Agreement”, drafts of which will be prepared following an agreed timetable.

The BGMEA and the Accord look forward to continuing the constructive discussions that took place over the last two days and commit to work together to ensure that RMG factories in Bangladesh are made safe and stay safe.