On 19 May 2025, a webinar titled “Building a Just Transition in Bangladesh: JETI’s Green Social Dialogue Programme” was organised by the Joint Ethical Trading Initiatives (JETI). The session brought together over 100 participants from various countries including individuals from ready-made garments (RMG) factories, international brands, civil society organisations, trade unions, and development partners.
In 2022 ETI Bangladesh launched the Green Social Dialogue programme, with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The initiative was piloted in five garment factories. The programme aimed to raise awareness among workers and civil society about how climate change affects the industry and to promote meaningful engagement through social dialogue.
During the webinar, ETI Bangladesh and Ethical Trade Norway shared findings from the end-line study and key lessons from the pilot. Key findings from the results included workers with climate change awareness rose from 25.9% to 79% workers, workers with knowledge of energy-saving methods increased from 61.7% to 99.3% and workers with waste management knowledge improved from 38.1% to 90%. Workers also became more actively involved in environmental actions through discussion. Also, the five pilot factories developed and implemented their climate action plan.
The event included a panel discussion with experts from Varner-Gruppen, Aman Knittings Ltd., Oxfam, and trade unions. They spoke about how a just transition can help build sustainable businesses. Topics included the financial challenges faced by suppliers, the need for responsible partnerships with brands, and the importance of listening to workers' voices in climate action.
The webinar also provided a platform to engage stakeholders in ETI’s future plans. Discussions highlighted the need for worker participation, capacity building, and financial support to promote a just and inclusive green transition in Bangladesh’s RMG sector. The event ended with reflections on how to scale green practices, tackle financial challenges, and strengthen long-term collaboration among industry key players.
