17 Apr 2026
Promoting Human Rights Compliance in the Bangladesh Garment Industry
Between 2017 and 2019, Global Rights Compliance (GRC) implemented several projects in the Bangladesh garment sector aimed at advancing responsible business conduct and strengthening human rights compliance. Through direct engagement with industry associations, factory owners, trade unions, and government inspectors, GRC provided advisory services on business and human rights, including the development of human rights policy statements, creation of company-level grievance mechanisms, and human rights impact assessments.
Context
The Bangladesh garment industry has experienced catastrophic accidents, including the 2012 Tazreen factory fire and the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse, which together claimed the lives of hundreds of workers. These incidents highlighted the urgent need for improved safeguarding of labour and human rights standards.
In response, GRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) to support labour reforms in the ready-made garment sector. Working alongside BGMEA and other stakeholders, GRC helped develop an action plan to guide factories in aligning with international labour standards and addressing the expectations of international partners such as the US Government, EU, ILO, and workers’ organisations.
Our Services and Activities
- GRC delivered a wide range of capacity-building activities, including training factory owners, employers, and over 200 mid-level staff on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
- Preparing training manuals and delivering sessions for trade unions, labour unions, and workers on international labour and human rights standards.
- Developing model guidelines, human rights impact assessment templates, and grievance mechanisms for rollout across BGMEA member factories.
- Facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops and organising “worker cafés” to create safe spaces for dialogue and grievance sharing among workers.
Partners
GRC was the lead implementer, working closely with ActionAid Bangladesh, Safety and Rights, Aware Women’s Action for Justice Foundation (AWAJ) – a grassroots organisation defending the rights of garment workers, especially women, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office – supporting the Modern Slavery Project.
GRC’s Business and Human Rights Team continues to engage with multiple stakeholders in the Bangladesh garment industry, including labour and trade unions, and is actively pursuing new accountability initiatives in collaboration with international civil society organisations.
Latest Insights
Ukraine
16 Apr 2026