Garment factory managers and other stakeholders met with their counter­parts from other countries in the region last week for an exchange aimed at fos­tering best-practices in the much-maligned sec­tor.

The roundtable event, led by Germany’s Society for International Cooper­ation (GIZ), the develop­ment arm of the country’s government, was held in Yangon and attended by officials from trade bodies and the government.

International buyer were also represented at the event, which organ­isers said was aimed at starting a discussion on the industry in Myanmar and encouraging good practices such as building and fire safety and sup­porting female workers, who make up the major­ity of those employed in Myanmar’s garment fac­tories.

Myanmar’s garment industry has suffered several blows to its repu­tation in recent years amid bouts of industrial disputes that have led to strikes and even attacks against factory managers.

And factories supplying some of the world’s most recognisable brands, including the clothing chain H&M, have been criticised for using child labour and a number of labour rights abuses.

At the same time, some have accepted assistance from international bod­ies to help push up stand­ards.

Last week’s event in­cluded participants from Bangladesh, China, Cam­bodia and Pakistan.

“We welcome this re­gional exchange and ap­preciate the opportunity to learn from our regional colleagues,” U Myint Soe, Chairman of the Myan­mar Garment Manufac­turers Association, told the roundtable.

Daw Khine Khine Nwe, the Association’s Secre­tary General, said Myan­mar’s garment industry was “catching up” with those of other countries and that it was set to “grow more through so­cial and environmental compliance in the supply chain.

Source From: Business Myanmar