BKMEA, STITCH team up to benefit Bangladesh garment workers and buyers

The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Sustainable Textile Initiative: Together for Change (STITCH) have signed two MOUs (Memoranda of Understanding) to promote gender sensitivity in the workplace in the knitwear sector in Bangladesh as well as ensure fair prices from buyers via the Fair Price app.

BKMEA and STITCH Consortium will work together to improve gender sensitivity in the workplace in BKMEA member factories, according to a press release by BKMEA. For this purpose, a grievance committee will be formed in each BKMEA member factory. The committee will not only receive complaints but also investigate and make recommendations. It will act as per the directions of the High Court following a 2008 writ petition to eradicate gender discrimination and sexual harassment from the country.
stitch Consortium will provide technical assistance to BKMEA in capacity building, development, and evaluation of internal master trainers in project management. Mondial FNV, Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), and FWF will be involved in the project as its affiliates. It is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands as a strategic partner. Fair Wear Foundation promotes transparent and ethical purchasing practices among knitwear exporters and buyers as a member of STITCH Consortium.
FWF has created an app called Fair Price App, which will help factories and buyers set fair prices using cost-related information. BKMEA and FWF will collaborate on introducing this app in BKMEA member factories to ensure fair prices from the buyers.
BKMEA vice president Fazlee Shamim Ehsan and the executive director of Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) Alexander Kohnstamm inked the MoUs. BKMEA vice president Akhter Hossain Apurbo, STITCH Consortium coordinator Mae Kallander, first secretary of the Netherlands Embassy in Dhaka Bas Blaauw, and the advisor of the STITCH Trade Union Advisory Board Amirul Haque were also present at the agreement signing ceremony, added the release.