Joint statement for responsible business conduct in Bangladesh

The Fair Labor Association has joined amfori, Cascale, Ethical Trade Denmark, Ethical Trade Norway, the Ethical Trading Initiative, ETI Sweden, Fair Wear Foundation, and Mondiaal FNV to urge companies operating in and sourcing from Bangladesh to conduct business responsibly.

Recent events in Bangladesh continue to impact people across the country, with significant implications for the garment, footwear, and accessories industry. For example, some workers have reported unpaid or reduced wages for July, and suppliers are running their factories with additional overtime. We are focused on addressing adverse impacts on workers through responsible business conduct as the situation in Bangladesh evolves.

We recommend that companies honor their commitments to suppliers, conduct enhanced human rights due diligence, and implement responsible purchasing practices to prevent and mitigate adverse impacts on workers and supply chains.

A collective response

We have been engaging with affected stakeholders operating in Bangladesh to monitor impacts on workers and the industry at large. To facilitate a collective response, our organizations have been working together to share joint recommendations for responsible business conduct.

These recommendations reflect our guidance to company members and our optimism for a stable future for Bangladesh.

Together, our organizations represent over 3,000 international brands, retailers, suppliers, and workers in global supply chains. Our member companies source a significant share of products and services from factories in Bangladesh and are committed to responsible business conduct as well as sustainable trade.

Our recommendations

Companies operating in and sourcing from Bangladesh have a responsibility to respect international human rights laws and standards, including the ILO core conventions and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). These apply in all circumstances, including periods of civil unrest and transition, and are even more critical in this fluid context. 

Enhanced human rights due diligence (eHRDD) is critical. Companies should conduct HRDD in line with the UNGPs to better understand the evolving situation and help them identify and mitigate risks and provide remedy where necessary. Meaningful stakeholder engagement, as defined by the OECD, should also be conducted with workers and their representatives, as part of the HRDD process. Companies should also implement responsible purchasing practices in line with the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices.

Together, we urge companies to remain stable, long-term partners with their suppliers in Bangladesh. Collaborative partnerships are the best foundation for responsible purchasing practices and for decent working conditions in supply chains worldwide. 

Read our full list of recommendations.