New Wave Group AB Hållbarhetsredovisning_2017_SV_HQ[1] | Page 24

MADE IN BANGLADESH
Bangladesh is the world’s second largest producer of garments and textiles and an important sourcing
country for New Wave Group. Our buying office was established in 1999 with four employees. Today,
we have 47 employees at our office in Dhaka.
Many people associate Bangladesh with poor working conditions, poverty and the building collapse of Rana Plaza in 2013, which is
the textile industry’s worst accident ever with 1 129 dead and many injured. The eyes of the outside world have since been directed
towards Bangladesh with new interest.
With the collapse in mind, the importance of the textile industry for the country is often overshadowed. However, the fact is that the
textile industry is the engine in Bangladesh’s economic development and has lifted millions of people out of extreme poverty. As export
business and production grows, GDP per capita rises, poverty decreased and living standards improve. That is why the textile industry
has been called for a springboard out of economic poverty by UNDP, UN’s network for global development. The industry has the
potential to give a large number of people employments without requirements on higher education and is of great importance, not least
for women, who thereby gaining more power over their lives.
The collapse also became the starting point for the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a legal agreement between buyers
of Bangladeshi garments and factory owners to work together for safe factories in the country. The Accord has brought important
changes that would not otherwise have been possible in such a short period of time. In the around 1,600 factories covered by the Accord,
over 80,000 security deviations have been corrected and nearly 700 factories have corrected over 90 % of their deviations, but still a
lot of work remains. Eventually, the responsibility for the safety in the factories will be taken over by the Bangladesh government, but
until the conditions are right, the important work must continue. Therefore, a new agreement has been developed that will enter into
force in May 2018 when the current accord expires. New Wave Group signed the new agreement in November 2017.
European brands play a key role, both being active in the country and by working for improved conditions and rights for textile workers.
With our own buying office and own CSR staff working full time with these issues, the New Wave Group has a great advantage in
its local presence. We share the supplier’s reality and have knowledge of cultural and religious differences, which creates conditions
for trustful relationships where the suppliers dare to share their problems. That way we can make a difference and support sustainable
development where it really is needed.
“The biggest strength of New Wave Group
is that we treat our suppliers as partners.
Suppliers know there is always an extended
hand, which enables us to have a sincere
communication. There is still much work
to be done in Bangladesh, and we
accept the challenge step by step.”
MIZANUR RAHMAN
Works as the CSR-manager for New Wave
Group in Bangladesh, India and Vietnam.
Mizanur has worked over 20 years in the
industry and is accredited amfori BSCI-auditor
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