Concern over worker safety

THE European Union (EU) is reportedly yet to be satisfied over the progress of steps, taken so far to ensure labour rights, safe and improved working conditions in our readymade garment (RMG) sector. There is a gap in the 'all-out approach' for transforming our factories in to fully compliant ones, and what we need to do is bridge the deficit.
One of the major drawbacks is lack of unity to work for a common goal. Our RMG manufacturers should realise that it's their professional and moral obligation to ensure workplace safety besides ensuring labour rights. It is an inherent collective commitment of our RMG stakeholders that's missing, and no external pressure will work until that realisation sinks in them to be more responsible from within.
Commerce minister's announcement of recruiting some 200 factory inspectors by the end of this month is well-timed and praiseworthy; but it's up to the owners to act as per inspection reports and we need to ensure that.
On one side the factory owners should change their mindset in general while on the other the EU and other international watchdogs should put pressure up on all big name retailers to work jointly with their suppliers so that the whole sector can be brought up to the desired compliance standards . Also alternative and practical solutions by the retailers for smaller factories with limited facility should be introduced, so that the smaller units can survive rather than perish.
We want to see that more than enough is done for upgrading our RMG sector which is a golden goose not only for us, and we dare say, for the western retailers too.