“To achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 with the target of $10 billion export income from the leather industry, the second largest export-earning industry, owners and tannery workers must work together,” Salam, a former president of the Jatiya Sramik League, told a press conference.

The Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) recently urged tannery owners, labour leaders and leather industry workers to jointly work to boost the sector and ensure social compliance. “The country’s leather industry is now facing a threat due to lack of proper strategic plan and producing quality products in the competitive world,” said BLF chairman Abdus Salam.

“There are a large number of local raw materials for the leather industry but we cannot utilise them properly due to the lack of proper plans. Now, the government has taken action plans to flourish the sector,” he was quoted as saying by Bangladeshi media reports.

BLF secretary general ZM Kamrul Anam expressed his concern over the environmental situation even after shifting tanneries to Hemayetpur from Hazaribagh. The results of the shift is almost zero, he said.

“Bangladesh cannot export leather and leather goods to Europe for not getting the Leather Working Group (LWG) certificate. Company owners should ensure compliance to boost their business,” Anam added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)