Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Bangladesh hosted a workshop on exploring roles of federations in just transition, green energy, and environmental sustainability in the Bangladesh RMG industry. The workshop on 26 October 2023 brought together 29 participants from workers’ federations and labour rights organizations. This event helped share perspectives on transitioning to a climate friendly RMG sector in line with Just Transitions principles.
The first working session started with a presentation by ETI Bangladesh focusing on the global and national contexts of climate change, green energy, and the just transition. It also highlighted the global and national level commitments reflected in the various policy documents including SDGs, Paris Agreement, NDC, 8th five-year plan, vision 2041 and the Mujib Climate plan of the Bangladesh Government. ETI Bangladesh’s strategy and its initiatives in climate change and just transition were also discussed.
In the session on intersectionality between climate change, energy & just transitions and workers’ right in the context of Bangladesh RMG industry, the participants identified several issues that negatively impacted workers’ rights and livelihood. Automation leading to job losses was a key concern. Participants also discussed health impacts due to excessive heat, water, and food issues. They emphasized women being disproportionately affected by climate change and economic losses.
Participants also revisited their existing roles and explore potential roles to promote just transitions, green energy and environmental sustainability in the Bangladesh RMG industry. They specially recommended multi-stakeholder collaboration, investing in capacity building and awareness-raising, facilitating a sectoral level platform, and strengthening workplace-based and sectoral level social dialogue.
