Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The European Union (EU) has stressed the need for implementing regulation on labour reforms in the apparel and clothing industries of Bangladesh immediately.
“Bangladesh's labour law still needs to address restrictions on trade union formation and membership, no later than in the next iteration of the labour law reform,” Karel De Gucht, European Commissioner for Trade, said while speaking at an informal OECD Ministerial Meeting on Rana Plaza Aftermath in Paris on Thursday.
Mr. Gucht said improvements in labour rights must be extended to the Export Processing Zones while the recruitment of labour inspectors needs to be accelerated, inspections need to proceed and their results published.
“All the enabling conditions must be in place, not only in law but in practice, for workers to organise into trade unions and make their voice heard at the factory level. Inspections must be followed by structural improvements to improve safety. Bangladeshi industry has a key role to play here,” the EU official noted.
During the meeting, the trade commissioner appreciated the initiative taken after the tragic incident of Rana Plaza last year that claimed more than 1,000 lives.
He also called upon the retailers and importers to play their role in improving garment sector.
Bangladesh, the EU, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) made an agreement to improve labour rights and factory conditions in the garment industry on July 8 last year. The United States joined later.
The EU had an obligation to act because it grants duty-free and quota-free tariff preferences to Bangladesh which have been a boon to the country's export performance, the EU official said. “The European Union was – and still is – the largest client of Bangladesh's garment business.”
He also said Bangladesh has amended its labour law improving labour rights. It has also upgraded its system for inspecting factory safety and begun the recruitment process of hundreds of new inspectors.
Inspections have started and their results are being made public. Many new unions have registered and workers are starting to organise,the EU official added. “In particular, they are making good progress on inspections of factories according to common standards and an operating manual for assessing building, fire and electrical safety.
BBN/SSR/AD-27June14-7:22 pm (BST)