Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety is set to leave Bangladesh by the end of the year. And so would the European buyers’ platform Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. These global buyers’ bodies were formed in the wake of the tragic Rana Plaza incident, to carry out inspection and remediation of apparel manufacturing units in the Bangladesh readymade garment sector.

However, more than 180 European brands have reportedly warned that if Accord is shut down, leaving workers in unsafe working conditions, they might reconsider their sourcing decisions. Accord would like to continue till the work of remediation which started in May 2013 is completed and a sustainable and adequate national regulatory structure is implemented to regulate workplace safety in the Bangladeshi garment industry.

The industry in Bangladesh does not think the exit of the buyers’ bodies would have any business implications. The view is Bangladesh has already achieved a good workplace environment through team work, a positive attitude, and huge investments and that if some factories still lack in achieving those goals, that will be corrected. This is at a time when the readymade garment industry in the country is standing at the cusp of the next phase of growth.