The Centre for Child Rights and Business officially launched Action Hub and a dialogues program on ‘Child labor risks in the lower tiers of Bangladesh’s RMG sector and pragmatic solutions to tackle it’ at Lakeshore Hotel Gulshan on 20 May.
The program aims to provide services and expertise in the RMG business to understand and address of impact on child rights in supply chain, at the same time delivering positive business outcomes.
The event begins with the welcoming remarks and introduction by Babli Quamrunnessa, Country Manager, Bangladesh, The Centre while context of the program ‘Understanding Child Labour Risks in Lower Tiers and the role of the formal sector to mitigate those risks’ presented by Ines Kaempfer, CEO, The Centre for Child Rights and Business. The main event panel discussion held on topic ‘Using the Power of Bangladesh’s RMG Sector to Create a Better Future for the Children of Bangladesh’ where Shovon Islam, Director, BGMEA and Managing Director, Sparrow Group, Tarikul Islam, General Manager Vendor Compliance & Sustainability, Li & Fung (Bangladesh) Ltd., S. M. Nurul Azam, Director CR Unit Asia, ALDI CR Support Asia Limited, A K M Ashraf Uddin, Executive Director, Bangladesh Labour Foundation, Saiful Millat were present as panelist. The entire panel was moderated by Riri S. O. Malikah, Director of Services Asia, The Centre for Child Rights and Business.
Ines Kaempfer, CEO, The Centre for Child Rights and Business is delivering her speech and the audience those came from various RMG industries and trade body.
During panel discussion Shovon Islam, Director, BGMEA said “The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has been actively involved in initiatives to eliminate child labor from the garment industry in Bangladesh. We are committed to creating a child labor-free garment industry in Bangladesh, ensuring the welfare of children, and improving the industry’s reputation globally.”
He informed BGMEA collaborates with international organizations like the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF to monitor factories and ensure compliance with child labor laws. Regular inspections and audits are conducted to identify and eliminate child labor.
Shovon Islam said “BGMEA has established rehabilitation programs for children removed from garment factories. These programs include education and vocational training to help integrate these children into society and provide them with alternative means of livelihood.”
“BGMEA also conducts awareness campaigns to educate factory owners, workers, and the general public about the negative impacts of child labor and the importance of adhering to labor laws”
“BGMEA collaborates with international brands and retailers to ensure that their supply chains are free from child labor. This often involves conducting joint audits and setting up systems to trace the origins of garments to ensure compliance.” he further added.
All the panelists highlights that Child labor in Bangladesh is driven by poverty, lack of access to education, and socio-economic factors. Many children are forced to work in hazardous conditions, depriving them of their childhood, education, and health. Widespread poverty forces many families to send their children to work to supplement household income. So child labor remains a pressing issue in Bangladesh, affecting the lives of millions of children. Conducting community outreach and education to raise awareness about the negative impacts of child labor and the importance of education are needed. To combat with child labor also requires providing education, support, and opportunities for children.
The Centre for Child Rights and Business was founded by Rädda Barnen AB and officially began operating in China in 2010 as a social enterprise with the mission to work with businesses to improve the lives of children affected by their operations. The original name of theorganization was The Centre for Child Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility (CCR CSR), with a small team of child rights experts and staff based in Beijing.
Since then, they have grown into a global team of over 51 staff based in 27 countries delivering child rights and business services and support to over 100 companies and thousands of suppliers across a range of business sectors. As of January 2021, the organization changed its name to The Centre for Child Rights and Business (shortened version ‘The Centre’).
