Pic: Laudes Foundation
Despite some improvements in the Bangladesh readymade garments (RMG) industry, there are significant barriers that still keep workers, manufacturers and brands from turning more transparent, according to a report, titled ‘Transparency Assessment: Examining the transparency journey for the Bangladesh apparel sector’, by the Laudes Foundation.
The report shows where each key stakeholder of the fashion supply chain is on a continuum of transparency and indicates where interventions can be targeted for each group.
A key finding of the report is that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution for workers, manufacturers and brands. Each group is on a continuum with transparency meaning different things to each group.
But rather than getting people to commit to full transparency, the continuum practically demonstrates how each group can progress to the next level of transparency along a spectrum that goes from pre-transparent, to emerging transparent, and finally mature transparency.
The Bangladesh RMG industry—the second largest in the world—has become a major participant in transparency initiatives. Public disclosure of inspections and corrective action plans have led to unprecedented transparency around fire, electrical and building safety conditions.
This has, in turn, unlocked substantial improvements in safety and demonstrated that transparency can have real benefits for the sector, according to the report.
The report highlights the work of a number of initiatives like the Transparency Pledge, the Transparency Index, KnowTheChain, Open Apparel Registry (OAR) and Better Work.
For example, Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) offers training and spreads awareness about labour standards. BRAC University’s Mapped in Bangladesh allows easy web-based access to basic factory information for all exporting clothing factories in the country.
One of the most heartening discoveries is that manufacturers, including factory owners and managers, are willing to embrace transparency. Sixty one per cent of them said they believed greater transparency will improve Bangladesh’s reputation in the global apparel market, compared to competitors.
And 87% indicated they would disclose labour issues and working conditions and safety related compliance information publicly.
But the findings also reveal a distinction between a willingness to provide public access and versus limited access to records and information. Some manufacturers consider limited or private sharing of data as transparency.
Due to the perception of inadequate social compliance performance, they fear that those who do make information public can open themselves up to criticism and a potential loss of business.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Despite some improvements in the Bangladesh readymade garments (RMG) industry, there are significant barriers that still keep workers, manufacturers and brands from turning more transparent, according to a report, titled 'Transparency Assessment: Examining the transparency journey for the Bangladesh apparel sector', by the Laudes Foundation.