EU brands firm on human rights in supply chain: Expert
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Sunday
July 03, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
SUNDAY, JULY 03, 2022
EU brands firm on human rights in supply chain: Expert

RMG

Reyad Hossain
21 May, 2022, 09:30 am
Last modified: 21 May, 2022, 01:14 pm

Related News

  • EU agrees rules to tame 'Wild West' crypto market
  • We'll be with you on 'long road' to membership, EU tells Ukraine
  • Ukraine 'now has clear European perspective', EU's von der Leyen says
  • EU’s REX system: Exporters now enjoy hassle-free certification of goods origin
  • Zelenskiy says Ukraine is now exporting power to EU

EU brands firm on human rights in supply chain: Expert

Reyad Hossain
21 May, 2022, 09:30 am
Last modified: 21 May, 2022, 01:14 pm
Annabel Meurs. Illustration: TBS
Annabel Meurs. Illustration: TBS

Fashion brands in the European Union (EU) are becoming increasingly serious about their role in the global supply chain in terms of human rights, said Annabel Meurs, an international supply chain expert.     

Terming human rights a shared responsibility, Annabel Meurs, head of supply chain transformation at Fair Wear Foundation, said brand actions have a huge influence on labour conditions in the sourcing countries.

"With purchasing practices, they [the brands] can make a difference," she told The Business Standard during an interview on the sidelines of the Sustainable Apparel Forum held in Dhaka recently.   

Annabel Meurs said Bangladesh is a major sourcing country for EU brands, and the country's apparel manufacturers also share the responsibility of protecting human rights alongside the foreign brands.     

The expert also spoke on fair prices for Bangladeshi apparel items in the international market, challenges about making the sector sustainable, and living wages of workers.

According to the expert, suppliers alone should not face the pressure stemming from shared responsibilities. Indeed, both suppliers and buyers should take the pressure equally.    

Highlighting the activities of Fair Wear Foundation with suppliers and brands, she said, "We collaborate with the stakeholders to create an impact."

She said an app has been developed to calculate apparel pricing due to raw material price hikes, and the app has already been launched in Bangladesh, allowing local manufacturers to negotiate better with the brands.

"But the important thing is that one single brand cannot achieve sustainable wage increases alone since a factory may work with ten different buyers. So buyers too need to take the responsibility to support wage sustainability."

Annabel Meurs said it is not possible for any single party to bring about structural change in Bangladesh's readymade garment sector.

"All the actors in the global supply chain have their respective roles. The whole enabling environment around us needs to make it possible for workers to collectively raise and address their rights. And the brands in Europe have a role to play, but it certainly is in collaboration with partners in the sourcing countries like Bangladesh," she noted.

The Europe-based Fair Wear was established in 1999 with the aim of improving labour conditions in the global apparel industry. It is a multi-stakeholder initiative, which connects and convenes brands, factories, workers, trade unions, NGOs and other industry influencers.

Fair Wear is now working with around 140 member brands, mostly European, and 11 RMG producing countries, including Bangladesh. 

Economy / Interviews / Top News

EU / EU brands / Human Rights / supply chain / Supply Chain Problem / Supply chain crisis / Supply chain disruption / European Union (EU)

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Export earnings hit record high $52.08B in FY22
    Export earnings hit record high $52.08B in FY22
  • Remittance inflow down by 15% in FY22 
    Remittance inflow down by 15% in FY22 
  • Photo of Bangladesh Secretariat/Collected
    Govt stops purchasing new cars for ministries, departments

MOST VIEWED

  • File Photo/TBS
    Bank branches at RMG industrial areas to remain open on 8,9 July
  • Bulgaria hiring RMG workers from Bangladesh
    Bulgaria hiring RMG workers from Bangladesh
  • Protest against dismissal of 80 garment factory workers in Savar
    Protest against dismissal of 80 garment factory workers in Savar
  • Apparel exports see 50% growth in  June amid high inflation in EU, USA
    Apparel exports see 50% growth in June amid high inflation in EU, USA
  • Experts and industry insiders expressed hope that the RMG sector would be able to overcome the challenges posed by the novel coronavirus outbreak 
Photo: TBS
    Export earnings cross $50b riding on RMG
  • Photo: TBS
    Food concerns tell on clothing sales

Related News

  • EU agrees rules to tame 'Wild West' crypto market
  • We'll be with you on 'long road' to membership, EU tells Ukraine
  • Ukraine 'now has clear European perspective', EU's von der Leyen says
  • EU’s REX system: Exporters now enjoy hassle-free certification of goods origin
  • Zelenskiy says Ukraine is now exporting power to EU

Features

A Glittery Eid

A Glittery Eid

6h | Mode
Rise’s target customers are people who crave to express themselves through what they wear, and their clothing line is not relegated to any age range.

Level up your Eid game with Rise

6h | Mode
Stefan Dercon, a Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford and former Chief Economist of the Department of International Development (DFID). Illustration: TBS

Renewing the ‘elite bargain’ for Bangladesh’s future growth

9h | Panorama
The eye-catching commuter: Suzuki Gixxer SF 155

The eye-catching commuter: Suzuki Gixxer SF 155

1d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Chirkutt performs on Fete de La Music Fest

Chirkutt performs on Fete de La Music Fest

8h | Videos
Madhuri Sanchita's seed ornaments exhibition

Madhuri Sanchita's seed ornaments exhibition

8h | Videos
Bangabandhu Tunnel to change lives of million

Bangabandhu Tunnel to change lives of million

19h | Videos
Sowari Ghat's fresh fish market

Sowari Ghat's fresh fish market

20h | Videos

Most Read

1
Padma Bridge from satellite. Photo: Screengrab
Bangladesh

Padma Bridge from satellite 

2
Meet the man behind 'Azke amar mon balo nei'
Splash

Meet the man behind 'Azke amar mon balo nei'

3
TBS Illustration
Education

Universities may launch online classes again after Eid

4
Photo: TBS
Bangladesh

Motorcycles banned on Padma Bridge 

5
Photo: Collected
Economy

Tech startup ShopUp bags $65m in Series B4 funding

6
World Bank to give Bangladesh $18b IDA loans in next five years
Economy

World Bank to give Bangladesh $18b IDA loans in next five years

EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab
BENEATH THE SURFACE
Launch operators on various river routes see a steep drop in passengers after the opening of the the Padma Bridge. Photo: TBS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net