KFL

Introduction

Right from the initial stage of RMG business in Bangladesh, Abedin Garments Limited, a Group-QA company, entered into the trade of apparel (woven) manufacturing. Abedin Garments Limited started its journey with only two lines at a rented accommodation at 50 Gulshan, Dhaka in August 1983. Gradually it has increased its scope and size of business to three lines by the end of 1989. Thereafter due to opulent demand from the buyers and increased opportunity, the management felt the necessity for opening another unit namely Kaniz Garments Ltd at 158 Tejgaon, Dhaka (a rented accommodation) in July 1994 with four lines. With the passage of time, the booming business led us to develop the 3rd unit namely Kaniz Fashions Limited in October 1998 at 50 Gulshan, Dhaka with two lines. Considering the rapid growth and expansion of business, Group-QA has established its own production facility at 228/A, Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka, which is a 9 storied building of about 1,60,000 sft, each floor left alone with the space of 18,000 sft. The factory is well equipped with Material Handling System (MHS) from Mostoles, Spain. The bonded warehouse is equipped with racking system which have been imported from Vogel Sang, Germany. It has also introduced Switch Track and Production Handling System. This Switch Track has been imported from the United Kingdom and it’s design was developed by the renowned company of South Africa and the MHS was designed from Sri Lanka.

In order to make our position clear to all our Buyers as well as to our staff and workers, we have set forth a ‘Code of Conduct’ policy. It is almost non-negotiable requirement so that all staff and workers without any exception follow this Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct of Group-QA has been formulated considering the following major issues of industrial and commercial factors in line with labour laws of the soil.

* Environment
* Factory Conditions
* Safety (Building, Fire and Man Security)
* First Aid
* Employment
* Workers’ Rights and Entitlements (Employment Contracts, Wages, Working Hours and OT etc)
* Child Labour
* Indiscrimination
* Freedom of Association
* Forced Labour
* Staff Rights and Entitlements
* Application of Code of Conduct
* Monitoring

Environment

Group QA complies with all applicable environmental laws and regulations of the country. Where such requirements are less stringent, the factory authority would out-line their own directions to meet the international standards as and when necessary.

Factory Conditions

Group QA ensures cleanliness of its premises, floors and every work station. Room temperature of working floors are tolerable, while sufficient ventilation keeps the floors congenially airy. Lighting at every work place is sufficient and separate sanitary facilities for men and woman are adequate, easily accessible and clean.

Safety (Building, Fire and Man Security)

Group QA ensures safety of its all structural establishments, they are well built and properly maintained. All exit routes and doors are clearly marked with ‘EXIT’sign, adequate stair-ways and escape routes are in place.

Sufficient number of smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, hosepipes, dedicated water reserve and other fire-fighting equipments are available as per the law of the land. These arrangements have been certified to be ok by the concerned govt. authorities.

Group QA also arranges adequate safety guards for both PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and machineries. Engineers, mechanics and electricians ensure time to time checking of all machineries, electrical cables, panels, switch boards etc. Training are conducted periodically and all workers are encouraged for using safety gears.

First Aid

Group QA ensures medical attention of its workers. Adequate number of First Aid boxes / facilities are placed on each floor complying the local laws and the person in charge of the First Aid Box area is trained properly. A registered MBBS doctor and a qualified nurse have been posted in the in-house medi-care centre and they take care of the patients as and when necessary. If   any worker, while on duty, needs higher medical attention, we provide the same from outside at Company cost.

Employment

Group QA ensures issuance of appointment letters to all its workers at the time of joining. Age verification is done by own registered doctor before recruitment. Appointment Letter contains the followings:

1. Wages structure
2. Daily working hours
3. Weekly off-day.
4. Maximum Over Time work ( not more then 12 hours a week)
5. Over Time rates (double of basic wages)
6. All kinds of leave (Casual, Sick, Festival and Annual) facilities as per law.
7. Maternity leave and benefits thereof as per the provisions of law.

Pay Slips are issued to all workers regularly on the day of wages payment that clearly depicts the break down of their monthly wages. Wages of our workers are always on the higher side that usually exceeds what the Minimum Wages Act demands. Wages of workers are paid by 7th day of the following month.

Service conditions of the workers are governed by the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 and we strictly go by the dictates of the law. Apart from all these, we allow our workers to encash their un-availed Annual leaves at the year-ending.

Workers Rights and Entitlements

We are well aware of the basic rights of the workers and their minimum needs at the work place. To ensure a congenial workplace, the prerequisites are: no forcible work, helpful supervisors, compassionate to employee grievances, no physical punishment, no sexual harassment, enjoyment of weekly off-day and other leaves as per law, timely payments of wages etc. On the other hand, easily accessible wash-room facilities, safe drinking water, clean cafeteria, neatly managed day-care centre for the suckling babies – these are the minimum needs of the workers. We ensure all these, because we believe all these elements develop a sense of belonging amongst the workers.

Child Labour

Group QA strictly ensures, there is no child labour in its factories. While recruiting the workers, it ensures that the workers must be of minimum 18 years of age and that always be certified by the in-house registered doctor.

Indiscrimination

Group QA employs workers regardless to race, color, gender, religion, political opinion, social or regional origin and marital status.

Freedom of Association

Workers are free to join associations of their own choice. Authority does not interfere with the workers who wish to law-fully and peacefully associate, organize or bargain collectively. Our workers are always free in selecting or choosing their association or organization.

Forced Labour

Group QA does not force any worker to work and does not use bonded or prison labour and nor it takes any financial deposit from the workers against their employment.

Staff Rights and Entitlements

Group QA recruits all its staff, officers and higher management executives following a high-level ethical practice. Staff rights and entitlements are determined before contracting or issuing appointment letter.

None of the staff, officers, executives and higher management executives are allowed to manage or favour, or convince superiors or parties outside by exchanging any kind of gifts, money or other sorts of unfair and unethical means. Person(s) who found to be associated with such kind of mischiefs, are brought to book on charge of misconduct.

Application of Code of Conduct

Group QA assigns its responsibility for all matters pertaining to the code of conduct within its organization. The authority also assigns responsibility for implementing this code at all levels  and ensures that all employees and workers become aware of the contents of the code by visualizing the same displayed on the notice Board in Bengali language.

Monitoring
Group QA assigns duties and responsibilities to its employees for regular monitoring, supervision and strict compliance of the COC. They inspect frequently and keep record if any non-compliant activities are found at floors and sections. Inspection is done without hampering any process or speed of production or any disruption in the performance of works. They may interview the concerned persons where it is deemed necessary for any specific occurrence. Officer in charge of the Code of Conduct (Compliance) reports to the top management from time to time of any non-compliance of this policy and ensures appropriate remedial measures in this regard