MBM Group is a socially responsible company, which aims at contributing towards the development of its workers and serving its customers with utmost satisfaction. In this regard, the company spends more than 2% of its profit for CSR activity.
FT Research Team
Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR is a corporation’s initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company’s effects on environmental and social wellbeing. MBM Group emerged as a major player in the RMG industry since 1983 and producing all kind of woven garments segment. They maintain a consistently high-quality standard of business conduct, ethics, and social responsibilities and take pride in the efficiency of what they do.
The tenets of Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) are firmly rooted in the MBM group’s corporate DNA and accordingly it is reflected in their mission and vision.
“When you already ensure all the basic needs of associates, ensure compliances then you are eligible to focus on CSR activity,” Saifur Rahman, CEO of MBM Group said to Textile Today.
“Business is not only our intention, but we also think about our associates. We not only want to make the management team be happy, rather we want to keep all the associates like workers, staff, partners, customers to be happy,” he added.
The company has set up a policy to spend 2% of its profit for CSR activity.
“We are not confined in 2%, it’s a numerical equivalent. Mostly spent amount goes up,” said Sadaf, Coordinator of CSR committee said.
Free lunch
The Company has been providing free lunch to over 3000 people daily in its principal factory MBM Garments Ltd for 30 years (since 1988). MBM was the first apparel factory in Bangladesh to provide a free daily meal and still continuing. The company also intend to begin offering daily free lunch to other units over 6500 people daily.
Fair price shop
To provide quality food at a minimum price, MBM Group has started the Fair Price Shop in both of their factories. From the shop, the workers and employees can purchase basic food product with credit from their salary. Based on the requirements, the shop sells almost all necessary commodities.
“The fair price shop is saving minimum 1000 taka per month from associates compared to purchase from the local shop,” Sadaf expressed.
Worker wellbeing
The wellbeing of associates considered to be a prime consideration for MBM. They have a WWB (Worker Well Being) Program to enhance associates’ wellbeing:
Hajj program: MBM Group arranges Hajj Program for its employees from 1999. More than 100 employees already got the opportunity to join Hajj at Macca. Employees, who are working in the group for more than 10 years, loyal and pious could get the opportunity. They sponsor 6 to 7 of associates for Hajj every year.
Education scholarship: Education scheme name ‘Towards Better Life’, the company together with the brand Levi’s Strauss, put all its child workers into schools, and made them work only a few hours, as stipulated in the law. Once their education is completed, they are confirmed as full-time employees. At present, they have 13 children under this scheme, providing all the educational expenses including school fees, uniforms, books, private tuition, journey fees, internet, and computer facilities.
Sponsorship to the volunteer organization: The company is providing schooling uniform to the JAAGO Foundation’s 1300 students twice a year. Now they are moving forward to financing JAAGO’s Youth Program.
HER project™
MBM group running HER project™ with the help of Levi Strauss Foundation. The program that advances the health and well-being of women in apparel factories where Levi Strauss & Co.’s products are made. The project enables women to learn about their health and share their knowledge with their co-workers and families, the management is encouraging them to take responsibility for their health—a shift in behavior with profound implications far beyond the factory walls.
“Especially the pregnant mother who hasn’t taken leave till now, we highlight her chair, provide highlight clothes and badges and notified to take care of her,” Saifur Rahman explained.
They also provide nutritious food like milk, egg, banana foods etc. to the mother. This project has reduced absenteeism and turnover rates of female workers.
Childcare
The company established childcare center where working mothers of 0-3 years old babies are offered childcare services and are able to be near to mothers during working shifts for feeding or visiting, thereby avoiding hours of separation and mothers feeling at ease and able to focus on her work. This project succeeds to add value to the workers and employees and the company getting their desired loyal workers and employees over the time.
Recognition and entertainment: RMG industry is a labor-intensive industry. Workers and management people here spend 50%-70% of their daily time. They hardly get the time of recreation.
With the improvement of basic life needs and livelihood issues the company also concerned with the overall happiness of its associates. They introduced programs of entertainment and festivities into regular work atmosphere.
They also provide the best employee award. Also, each floor competes with other for best floor environment.
