Latest Developments
May 2010
Following the decision of the MFA Forum Executive Committee and the Bangladesh Steering Committee to suspend activities of the Bangladesh Working Group, we are now opening up a call for proposals for work to take place on three critical issues in the country:
1. Freedom of Association / Collective Bargaining
2. Wages
3. Decent Work
Further information can be found in the attachment. Please share this information with everyone this might be of interest to. Should you have any further queries, please contact the MFA Forum Secretariat.
Bangladesh Call for Proposals
March 2010
Ahead of the 23rd MFB meeting, the MFA Forum Secretariat travelled to Dhaka for bilateral conversations with each constituency of the MFB and to attend the MFB meeting that took place on 30 March 2010. The Secretariat met with representatives from the BNC, Tesco, H&M, GTZ, ILO, BGMEA, Awaj Foundation, Karmojibi Nari and the local Buyers Forum convened by IFC/SEDF. The trip was timely as working groups had to submit their work plans for the coming period by mid-March. Despite submitting a work plan, many international stakeholders deemed the MFB work plan as not being aligned enough with the mission of the MFA Forum.
Prior to the meeting, the Bangladesh Steering Committee discussed the critical issues that would be most appropriate for the MFB to focus on. It was concluded that the revised work plan should include strong elements of Freedom of Association, Living Wage and Decent Work. Failure to address these issues would result in the disengagement of the MFA Forum from the MFB. The Secretariat conveyed this decision at the MFB meeting and requested the revision of the existing MFB work plan. The workplan that had originally been submitted to the MFAF Secretariat had focussed on productivity improvements without highlighting how such activities could improve social compliance and increase workers’ benefits. In the MFB meeting, the participants agreed to produce a workplan that is closer aligned with the MFAF’s objectives. It was confirmed by the MFB participants and its Secretariat (GTZ) that a revised work plan will be submitted to the MFA Forum for approval by 15 April 2010 and that a progress report will be delivered by 15 June 2010. The Secretariat can confirm that this work plan was received on time and will be discussed at the upcoming Steering Committee teleconference on 28 April 2010.
In addition, international stakeholders had questioned the extent to which the MFB is a representation of all industry stakeholders, particularly referring to NGO and trade union participation. The GTZ as well as other local stakeholders explained that there are currently two representatives of each stakeholder group (with the exception of the buyers who currently have four representatives) invited to participate in MFB meetings. During the last MFB meeting, two NGO and trade union representatives were present. Concerns, however, seem to exist about the fact that the concept of representation is not well understood and that those serving on the MFB often do not regularly report back to their constituents and vice versa. The regular attendance of various members is another challenge. In order to address the issue of representation, the GTZ developed a “constitution” for the MFB (a copy of the MFB’s “constitution” is also available on this website).
The consultations with local stakeholders also helped the Secretariat to assess the current situation in-country, especially with regards to the issues of Freedom of Association, Living Wage and Decent Work. Although all of the stakeholders agreed that much more work is needed to respect the rights of workers and to sustain the industry, many also highlighted the achievements made in the past. An example for this is the establishment of participatory committees in factories as a possible preliminary stage for union representation.
This visit was also a great opportunity to advance conversations with the IFC in Dhaka on the possibility of developing a trade finance product for the industry that has an inbuilt social and environmental incentive structure.
January 2010
After multiple rounds of consultations with all stakeholders, the MFAF Secretariat drafted a “Briefing Paper” to outline the status of the Bangladesh work. The briefing paper was discussed at an ExCo call at the end of the month and it was decided that the “Bangladesh Steering Committee” needed to be reinvigorated in order to draft the next steps. At the same time, the MFAF reached out to the MFB to share information on the composition of the group and its work plan with the MFAF.
July 2009
Paul Dearman (Tesco) and Maritha Lorentzon (H&M) welcome the new MFB Chair, Md. Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), 2nd Vice President, BGMEA, on behalf of the MFA Forum Bangladesh Working Group.
Letter to the New MFB Chair
March 2009
MFA Forum buyers had an introductory call with the US Department of State and Trade Representative to discuss the work of the Working Group and to get an update on the proposed LDC (Less Developed Country) trade preference program.
February 2009
The MFA Forum Bangladesh Working Group introduces its work to the newly elected Government Ministers of Bangladesh.
Letter to the Ministry of Commerce
Letter to the Ministry of Industries
Letter to the Ministry of Labour & Employment (1)
Letter to the Ministry of Labour & Employment (2)
September 2008
Bangladesh Working Group participants write a joint letter to the Bangladesh Government to share the outcome of the Dhaka conference in June 2008.
Letter to the Government of Bangladesh following the 2008 Dhaka conference