Sarah Labowitz '04 Urging Stakeholders to Ensure Sustainable Improvement in Bengali Workplace Safety

National and international stakeholders have been urged to forge a greater coordination among them to ensure sustainable improvement in workplace safety in Bangladesh.

The call emerged from a discussion in New York on Tuesday, according to a message received here Wednesday.

The NYU Stern Center on Business and Human Rights brought together senior government officials from Bangladesh, local manufacturers, senior officials from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Export Association (BGMEA), and representatives of Bangladesh civil society and workers' organisations to discuss workplace safety and the future of the garment industry in Bangladesh.

Participants were joined by major US and European retailers, several Western governments, key intergovernmental organisations, and outside experts. NYU Stern Dean Peter Henry, Chair of Stern's Board of Overseers William R. Berkley and NYU Stern Professor Michael Posner opened the meeting.

Lew Kaden, former Vice Chairman of Citigroup, moderated the discussion. This was the Center's first major convening since its launch in March 2013. The meeting was organised by Sarah Labowitz who travelled on the Center's behalf to Bangladesh in July.