Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - US Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat has said Labour rights and workplace safety in Bangladesh remain a top US priority.
“We need Bangladeshis to ensure there will be no more heart-rending tragedies like the Rana Plaza building collapse or the Tazreen Fashions factory fire,” she said while giving her testimony before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Thursday.
With support from the United States and other international partners, Bangladesh has begun to make progress in transforming its garment sector, she added.
Bernicat was nominated by President Barack Obama in May to be the next US ambassador to Bangladesh.
She, currently deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Human Resources at the Department of State, said: “If confirmed, I pledge to you that I will actively further our efforts to strengthen respect for labour rights and to improve workplace safety in Bangladesh.”
Bernicat will replace Dan Mozena, when her appointment is finalised.
Bangladesh is now the second largest garment exporter after China. The country has around 4,000 active garment factories, employing more than 4.0 million people, 80 per cent of whom are women.
BBN/SSR/AD-18July14-9:24 pm (BST)