After months of delays following the deadly Rana Plaza collapse in April, a comprehensive factory inspection was supposed to begin today to check structural flaws in buildings.
But the process is grappling with setbacks and may take another 7-10 days to kick off, as stakeholders are yet to agree on a common checklist for the inspection guideline, according to Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar.
Under the initiative, the labour and employment ministry in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation will inspect 2,250 factories by 30 teams of experts led by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).
However, three separate platforms, including the one led by Buet, had earlier agreed in principle to follow a common action plan drawn by the government, but did not turn up later.
The other platforms are global initiatives—one led by IndustriALL, an international trade union, and the other is North American Alliance, a platform of 20 US-based retailers and brands.
Initially the platforms that emerged after the Rana Plaza building collapse had a plan to inspect the factories under their own guideline.
Shipar said they will sit tomorrow with the high-ups of North American Alliance, one of the global platforms, to discuss the common checklist.
They have another meeting on the same day with the Economic Relations Division on the funds for the inspection, the secretary said.
The ERD will disburse the $24 million funds provided by the ILO.
The global platforms are yet to submit the lists of the factories they will inspect, which is also holding the inspection back.
The members of the North American Alliance will also hold a meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufac-turers and Exporters Association in Dhaka tomorrow to discuss the issue of a common checklist.
But the process is grappling with setbacks and may take another 7-10 days to kick off, as stakeholders are yet to agree on a common checklist for the inspection guideline, according to Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar.
Under the initiative, the labour and employment ministry in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation will inspect 2,250 factories by 30 teams of experts led by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).
However, three separate platforms, including the one led by Buet, had earlier agreed in principle to follow a common action plan drawn by the government, but did not turn up later.
The other platforms are global initiatives—one led by IndustriALL, an international trade union, and the other is North American Alliance, a platform of 20 US-based retailers and brands.
Initially the platforms that emerged after the Rana Plaza building collapse had a plan to inspect the factories under their own guideline.
Shipar said they will sit tomorrow with the high-ups of North American Alliance, one of the global platforms, to discuss the common checklist.
They have another meeting on the same day with the Economic Relations Division on the funds for the inspection, the secretary said.
The ERD will disburse the $24 million funds provided by the ILO.
The global platforms are yet to submit the lists of the factories they will inspect, which is also holding the inspection back.
The members of the North American Alliance will also hold a meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufac-turers and Exporters Association in Dhaka tomorrow to discuss the issue of a common checklist.
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