Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Bangladesh held Brand Members’ Forum Meeting in Dhaka on 7 July 2025. The meeting brought together 18 representatives (12 male, 6 female) from 15 Ready-Made Garments (RMG) brands.
The meeting discussed current challenges and actions in the ready-made garment sector.
Giles Bolton, Executive Director of ETI, presented the organisation’s global strategyThe presentation covered three main areas: Human Rights Due Diligence, collective action and convening, and an enabling environment.
Laurent Arnone, Senior Advisor on Apparel and Textiles at ETI, spoke about ETI’s strengths and approach.
Munir Uddin Shamim, Director of Programme, Evidence and Learning at ETI Bangladesh, presented findings from the recent study on the implementation of the 2023 minimum wage which was conducted under Sustainable Textile Initiatvie: Together for Change (STITCH) consortium in collaboration with Brac University. The study showed that many factories have applied the revised wage, but a significant number of workers still face challenges such as underpayment, increased workloads, and confusion about wage grades.
Brand representatives discussed traceability issues in the lower tiers of the supply chain and the need for better coordination with trade unions and federations. Concerns were raised over communication gaps between buyers and suppliers.
Abil Bin Amin, Executive Director of ETI Bangladesh, delivered closing remark. He said that the organisation would keep supporting dialogue between brands, suppliers, trade unions, and workers.
The meeting ended with brands sharing experiences and ideas for future collaboration.
