Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) has organised a Round Table Seminar on “Sustainable Tannery Industry & its Workers – Challenges & Action Plan” at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka. The seminar was presided by the Chairman of BLF Mr. Abdus Salam Khan where Dr. Md. Jalal Uddin, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment attended as Chief Guest. Mr. Md. Mostaque Hassan, ndc, Chairman, Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) was also participated as Special Guest. Among others Jitendra Nath Pal, Project Director, Tannery Industrial Estate; Md. Shahin Ahmed, President, Bangladesh Tanners Association; Fazlul Haque Montu, President, Jatiyo Sramik League; Dr. Wajedul Islam Chowdhury, Secretary General, Trade Union Kendra; Abul Kalam Azad, Tannery Workers Union attended in the discussion meeting. The seminar was participated by different stakeholders who are involved with the Tannery and its supply chain. The round table was moderated by Z.M. Kamrul Anam, Secretary General of BLF where Md. Mahmudul Hasan Khan, Program Manager of BLF present the keynote on the theme of the program.

During the open session, the discussant emphasize to ensure the compliance in the Tannery Industrial Estate in Savar at the earliest where they mentioned that because of that Bangladesh has been loosing global competition. And Tannery Industrial Estate should comply the Leather Working Group compliance certification to expand its export to large buyer in EUROPE and USA. Mr. Shahin Ahmed told the meeting that the employers of the Tanneries are now facing extreme fund crisis because of this non compliance issue as well as access to finance is much difficult because they have not yet get the land registration in Savar from the government. Mr. Abul Kalam Azad express his concern of loosing job of workers as well as not to comply all social compliance by the employers. He also mentioned that to get the LWG certification it is very much necessary to ensure social compliance in regards to workers where workers are facing lots of problems when they shifted from Hazaribagh to Savar. Mr. Md. Mostaque Hassan promised in the meeting that BSCIC is now ready to give registration to the owners and ensure that within one week the owners will get the letter for registration of land. He also mentioned that BSCIC will provide land for Medical establishment in the area where all party agreed to pursue different ministry to get fund for the medical in the TIE. Finally BSCIC ensures that the road lamp facility and plantation of tree will be taken place very soon. Mr. Ashraf Uddin Mukut, Executive Director of BLF express to help BSCIC on Tree plantation in the rainy season with all facilities. In the speech of Chief Guest Mr. Dr. Md. Jalal Uddin urged all stakeholders to ensure government export target of 5 billion and work together to resolve all issues. He also said that the employers should respect government decision and take necessary steps to implement the declared minimum wage. Mr. Abdus Salam Khan mention that BLF is working for a sustainable tannery industry to achieve Sustainable Development Goal. He also told that Tannery is already free of Child Labour which is a great achievement in respect to Bangladesh context and we should keep all our good work and effort to bring this industry in the next level. An action plan was than disclosed with vote of thanks by BLF Executive Director Mr. Ashraf Uddin Mukut.