A momentous signing ceremony was hosted by Leathergoods And Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) on Monday, May 19, 2025, marking the official launch of three groundbreaking initiatives: the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) Pilot, the Simon Project, and Labor Law Compliance and Productivity Industry Preparedness Program (IPP). These projects represent a significant stride toward strengthening workplace safety, occupational health, and social and environmental compliance in Bangladesh’s leathergoods and footwear industry.
LFMEAB President Mr. Syed Nasim Manzur signed three agreements on behalf of the organization. Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO Country Director; Mr. Warner Lange, Head of SEDTEC Cluster, GIZ Bangladesh; and Professor Dr Mahbuba Nasreen, Co-Founder of the Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies (IDMVS), University of Dhaka, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations. Among others, Dr Javier Chercoles-Blázquez, Director, the Simon Project, members of the LFMEAB Board of Directors, and esteemed industry stakeholders were present.
The EIS Pilot project, in collaboration with ILO, GIZ, and LFMEAB, will work to design a cost-effective coverage for workplace accidents, strengthen industrial relations, improve employer reputation, and provide data for policy advocacy. The Simon Project, a collaboration between IDMVS of University of Dhaka and LFMEAB, will focus on digital health data collection to identify disease trends, prevent outbreaks, and reduce productivity losses. Lastly, the Industry Preparedness Program (IPP), a collaboration between ILO and LFMEAB, will support 30 member factories in assessing and improving their social and environmental standards, equipping them to diversify export markets and enhance compliance with international labor and sustainability benchmarks.
Together, these programs reaffirm LFMEAB’s commitment to global best practices and a safer, more sustainable industry future.
